Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State mentioned ECTs in her remarks. The Social Democrats will oppose section 83 which allows for ECT for children. According to the Psychological Society of Ireland, it has not been used in the State on children in more than two decades. It is still contained in the Bill. I accept that ECT is subject to the approval of the High Court. We believe that it should never be used. In 2023, the WHO and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights advised against the use of ECT on children and young people and recommended its prohibition by legislative. The Ombudsman for Children has also raised concerns and said that further consideration must give to its inclusion in this new Bill.

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