Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I presume dealing with unexpired renewal orders applies in the specific cases at the centre of the court case the result of which is to be announced tomorrow. I again ask because it is important in proceeding stage by stage. I have not opposed the passage of Second Stage and it is not my intention to be obstructive. However, I am anxious to know factually the situation and to know at least as much as we can ascertain from the Minister.

Can she clarify for us that renewal orders have been issued? I understand this woman has been detained since August 2007 over which period four renewal orders have been signed, which means the options clearly were not 12 month in terms of those ticked, as we were informed earlier, by the consultant psychiatrists concerned.

The claim she makes is that the doctors have indicated that the best place for her clinically in their renewal orders was not in the institution where she is presently in Dublin but in supported accommodation. I ask again about her claims, as reported in The Irish Times of Friday, 17 October, that the only reason she is being detained in this hospital is because the HSE is failing to provide adequate supported accommodation. If that is the case and if there are 209 or 230 involuntary detentions in psychiatric institutions, as was confirmed earlier, how many of those should not be in the care of institutions but who are there only because the State and the HSE have jointly failed to provide the appropriate accommodation which the respective psychiatrists have confirmed as the most appropriate? It is important the Minister would clarify the position in this regard.

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