Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will not repeat everything Deputy Cairns just said but the UN committee has made clear the functional test of mental capacity has no place in a true system of supported decision-making. I understand accepting this amendment would require further amendments to the Bill and the principal Act. However, it is preferable these amendments take place now to ensure this State is as close as possible to compliance with international obligations than realising the error of our ways further down the line in the review of the Act following its commencement and seeking to change the course at that stage when it has already been rolled out in its present form.

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