Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I am not wedded to the amendment but I am wedded to the idea that there is a problem. I assume the Minister of State accepts there is a problem. I am not sure that what is proposed in the Bill will deal with that problem. It is the small number of cases where somebody needs support and a mental health practitioner will not sign, as the practitioner is not allowed, and the Garda cannot get a GP to sign. I mentioned a code of practice, guidelines and all the rest. Sometimes, there is a need for that. Cases have been taken by the Mental Health Commission. GPs and others are working on the basis that it is only if there is an immediate threat, if the persons in question are a danger to themselves, for example, or there is a possibility they will take their own lives or are willing to injure or endanger somebody else. I cannot get over how some cases I have dealt with have gone on for months and then, in the end, the person is admitted involuntarily. In many circumstances, people are happy enough to go along and the GP will sign for a voluntary admission but will not sign otherwise. That also means GPs and others will need supports, structures, a framework, guidelines and a clear code of practice. Does the Minister of State accept there is a problem that needs to be dealt with? I have no problem if this circumstance is dealt with on Report Stage.

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