Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

We are opposing this section on the grounds that the entire section skews the whole point of mental health practitioners existing in the first place unless this amendment is passed, which would be a major contribution to it.

I find it an extraordinarily draconian measure that a one-person tribunal, made up of a barrister whose profession is to deal with legal issues, would make a determination on somebody whose mental health was challenged and who was taken against his or her will into a mental health institution. I find this really draconian and upsetting. The Minister should explain fully why this has occurred because at the briefing we had on it, the explanation was not good enough. The explanation that was given to us is that this is what is done in other jurisdictions. I do not accept that and I believe it behoves the Minister to give a full explanation. However, we will support the amendment.

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