Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 30:

In page 20, to delete lines 34 to 38 and substitute the following: “(i) is aged 16 years or older—

(I) it shall be presumed that the child has the necessary maturity and capacity to make decisions affecting himself or herself in relation to his or her admission, care and treatment under this Act, and

(II) the views and the will and preferences of the parents or guardian of the child be recorded and given due weight,

and”.

This is a technical amendment to separate out section (1)(c)(i) of the Bill as initiated to make it clear that the views of parents-guardians are recorded and given due weight but that a child aged 16 years or older will be presumed to have the maturity and capacity to make decisions about his or her own admission, care and treatment.

See this speech in context