Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to acknowledge the Minister of State's work on this and in the whole area since she took up the role. Since 2001, there has been a sea change around the understanding, treatment and acceptance of mental health issues. We still have a long way to go but let us hope that the legislation reflects that sea change, the change in treatments and the fact that people have greater power and capacity.

The Minister of State mentioned those aged 16 and 17 years. During the week at the subcommittee on mental health, Mental Health Reform highlighted a particular lacuna between the heads of the Bill and the assisted decision-making capacity Bill. The heads of the Bill say that the assisted decision-making capacity Bill would apply for the purposes of conducting capacity assessments, but there is no decision on supports for those aged under the age of 18. Has that been highlighted to the Minister of State? Why are we still talking about leaving an opening to admit those under 18 years into adult units? I am very wary of that. Hopefully we can move away from it.

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