Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I fully understand the situation in which many gardaí find themselves. It is a very difficult situation when they are dealing with a person who is having a psychotic episode and there is no option other than to take them somewhere safe, for themselves and for the rest of the community. Of course there are safeguards there. It is not the gardaí who will decide if the person will be put in. The doctor is called and an assessment is made. That is not a decision for a garda but it is the gardaí who must initially try to deal with the situation, which can be a very difficult situation. In that regard, it would be appropriate to ensure that there is the proper level of training, and that there would be interaction with other agencies.

The big problem is that many of these people, in the context of psychiatric issues, mental health problems and drug addiction, have by and large been failed by the services. They have ended up in these situations where gardaí must intervene. Collaboration is needed between the Departments of Justice and Health, and other Departments, to ensure this failure is ended.

See this speech in context