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 Mark WardMark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree with that. I do not think legislation is a panacea for everything. Only last week we heard about the children who were failed because they could not get an assessment of needs within six months, as per the Disability Act. There is legislation in place for that but it did not happen. That said, including it in the legislation will put pressure on the Government to make sure provision is made. I agree with Ms Grogan on that.

I feel like I am starting rows here today because my next question is on an issue about which the witnesses are contradicting each other. Mr. Farrelly spoke about the independent complaints mechanism at a previous committee meeting and referred to it again today. He said that he did not think it was warranted in relation to mental health treatment. However, in its opening statement, Mental Health Reform refers to the fact that it has been highlighting the need for an independent complaints mechanism since 2014. As I said, there are contradictory opinions on this. I ask both groups, starting with the Mental Health Commission, to explain the rationale for their stance on an independent complaints mechanism. I also ask the representatives from Mental Health Reform to touch on whether it goes against the principle of parity between physical and mental health.

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