Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 5 April 2022

Joint Committee On Health

General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Discussion (Resumed)

Photo of Frances BlackFrances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome everyone. Members have been circulated with draft copies of the minutes of the meetings of 17 January 2022, 8 February 2022, 8 March 2022, 22 March 2022 and 25 March 2022. Are those minutes agreed? Agreed.

The committee will today complete its pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the mental health (amendment) Bill 2021. Today's meeting will be split into two sessions. I welcome our first set of witnesses from Shine and the Psychological Society of Ireland, PSI. From Shine, I welcome Ms Nicola Byrne, chief executive officer, and Ms Estella Vidal, advocacy officer, while from the PSI, I welcome Dr. Anne Kehoe, president-elect, and Dr. Michael Drumm, council member.

Before we hear opening statements, all members and witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against either a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if statements are potentially defamatory regarding an identifiable person or entity, I will direct that the remarks be discontinued. It is imperative that any such direction be complied with.

I now call Ms Nicola Byrne to make her opening statement.

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