Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for their responses. I would be interested to learn more. In the same way it is for Deputy Ward, this is a very personal topic to me, especially issues around tapering the use of medication. When I was a very young woman, there were many complexities around those issues and perhaps some day I will be more confident to speak about my experiences more publicly. The human rights framework and informed consent elements are very important. Sometimes, particularly in crisis situations or dire situations, one is told there is only one way. Perhaps that is sometimes the case in a crisis moment but it cannot be the only way forever. At some point, a patient will come off the bottom. A patient is told there is only one way and at no point does someone ask the patient if he or she would like to have a conversation. I am particularly interested in that aspect of the matter and I would be interested to hear more about it because, as I said, it is a personal topic to me.

I will ask a question that I also asked of some medical professionals who were before the committee a few weeks ago. We are working on a piece of legislation and our guests' job is to come in and point out the flaws and problems with it and suggest ways in which we can improve it. Are we on the right track with this legislation? Is it fit for purpose? We have been talking about this for the past ten or 15 years. Are we on track to having a gold standard or world-class standard of service, or even just good legislation, that would protect, support and provide care and compassion for the people who will be affected by it? This legislation will affect fewer people than some other pieces of legislation we look at. Are we going in the right direction in terms of how we need to treat or support our patients with mental health issues? I am talking specifically about this Bill. We all know our thoughts about the mental health supports sector overall.