Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

That is ridiculous. My next questions are for the National Advocacy Service. It discussed how the interaction between community health organisations, CHOs, and mental health services increases rights restrictions placed on disabled people in the community and cited the case of 'Bill'. Could they elaborate on that point? We often encounter this issue whereby poor communication and engagements between State services, in this case with the HSE itself, have really negative impacts on individuals and families.

The National Advocacy Service also articulated the importance of giving statutory recognition to the role of independent advocacy in the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act, to enable such advocates to participate in decision-making and to have the right to access information and ensure the voice of the person affected is protected. To my reading of their statement there is a very real danger that the service it provides could easily be disregarded under the Act.