James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

My amendment No. 17 seeks to ensure there is an identifiable individual, not necessarily from the HSE, and that there is some onus of responsibility placed on some third party to ensure people get the requisite help needed. Some mechanism should be in place which would allow an identifiable third party, say a family solicitor or the executor of a will, to represent a patient who has become slightly confused. The patient may be compos mentis under the definition of the legislation but that may not necessarily mean he or she could get through the system on his or her own owing to mild confusion or illiteracy.

I welcome amendment No. 14 in the name of the Minister which supplants my amendment No. 15. I acknowledge the Minister of State's point that prior consent would be necessary.

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