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

I thank Deputies for their contributions. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan referred to the late John McCarthy. While the Department carried out a review of the Mental Health Act, my view on electroconvulsive therapy, ECT, was informed by Mr. McCarthy. While he was not entirely opposed to ECT, which continues to be the subject of debate, he certainly opposed its use when people were unwilling and had the capacity to make a decision on the treatment.

I plan to group the amendments to this short Bill, as they relate to only two sections of the 2001 Act. The changes involved are similar involving the removal of the word "unwilling" from sections 59 and 60 of the Mental Health Act 2001. Amendment No. 1 to section 1 relates to definitions and is a small, technical amendment recommended by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. It defines what the principal Act being amended is. The new definition being included confirms that the principal Act being amended is the Mental Health Act 2001.

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