Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I do not blame the Ceann Comhairle because other Members are being disruptive. I attended an interesting press briefing yesterday, which turned into a mini-conference on the mental capacity Bill. There were four speakers, with one more impressive than the other. If one has Alzheimer's disease, one can sign over one's property but if one has autism, one cannot sign a contract to buy a house. This Bill is needed urgently. The legislation covering people who have the capacity to make decisions for themselves in regard to their health, the law, making a will, their property, where they want to live or who they want to live with was enacted in 1871. Surely we need the legislation urgently?

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