Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

We had an extensive debate and the Deputy's colleague, Deputy Ward, raised a number of issues, particularly on the applicability of advanced healthcare directives, AHDs. We have since been able, following on from the amendments made in the Seanad, to broaden out the applicability of AHDs. They do not cover everybody, and if he was here I am sure Deputy Ward would make that point. In the Seanad I read out a communication from the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, on the revision of the mental health legislation, which is in train. Heads of the Bill have been discussed and have gone to a pre-legislative scrutiny process. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, made it clear the draft legislation has priority drafting for next term. She indicated that clearly and she also indicated clearly that a common approach to everybody in terms of the applicability of AHDs is the objective of the Department of Health in the approach it will take in the mental health reform legislation. That is important and I was glad the Minister of State was able to give us that confirmation on behalf of the Department of Health. The point I was making is that our Department was able to take this a certain amount of the way but the rest of the way would be taken by the Department of Health. It has confirmed it wants to extend AHDs to everybody, that it wants to do this rapidly and that the Bill has priority drafting.

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