Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I thank all the witnesses for attending today. I am conscious that we are having this conversation this morning and those of us who are Members of the Dáil will be asked to vote on amendments to this Bill later today. I know some of those present have had a chance to read in detail the amendments that were published last week and others have been catching up on them between yesterday and today. We are having this conversation in the middle of a moving piece.

I acknowledge that the resourcing of mental health colours all of this conversation because, while it is really important to introduce the very important rights that are contained in the Bill, it is the execution of the rights that are critical.

I will direct my questions to Ms Hilman from An Garda Síochána. The experience of the project in Limerick has been fantastic, but will the Bill and the authorised officers undo the model there in terms of the interaction between An Garda Síochána and the health professionals? A new layer is now being introduced. I am extremely conscious that we must have a change for the Garda when we look at the time it takes for gardaí and the inappropriate environment people waiting for a hospital place are kept in for many hours. Does she believe that what is proposed in the Bill will undo some of the good work the Garda is doing?