Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

That is the very reason for the delay, but the Deputy does not seem to understand this, nor does he understand we already have a Mental Health Act in place which, as he keeps telling us, his beloved leader published. It continues to provide the governance process by which mental health services are run. We have delayed publication of the review because we want to get it right. Unlike the 2001 Act, we want to ensure there will be comprehensive and rights-based legislation in place.

That Act was appropriate for its time, but it is not appropriate anymore. I do not intend to rush this process because in dealing with very vulnerable people, and the people who care for them for whom we also have to care, we need get this right rather than quick.

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