Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 8 May 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters

Deprivation of Liberty: Discussion

Dr. Rosaleen McDonagh:

I would add that on the idea of stratifying those of us with physical and intellectual impairments and people who have psychological issues, there would be two elements. We would call on the Government to roll out segregated data, including disability status but also ethnic identifiers, right through the system. That would inform us on how we protect and legislate for people with life-limiting impairments. I would also add that most of us - and I include myself here - who have been detained involuntarily either end up in prison or in a hospital for long periods of our lives. We are not told what medication we are on, we are restrained without our consent and we are also, more importantly, given no options for where to go after a period in hospital or prison.