Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)

I will speak on amendments Nos. 148 and 149. Amendment No. 148 sought to provide legal consistency throughout the Bill. The amendment sought to tie the provision directly to the safeguards already outlined in section 56, ensuring consistency and coherence throughout the legislation. It also sought to strengthen patient protections by explicitly linking actions to sections. It reinforces that any application of treatment must follow the existing rights-based procedures and conditions already established in said section.

Amendment No. 149 is intended to clarify the legal meaning, replacing "in care of" with "present in" to remove ambiguity and ensure that the provision applies to all individuals physically within the facility, regardless of their formal care status. It also seeks to close any potential loopholes insofar as the term "in the care of" could be interpreted narrowly, potentially excluding individuals temporarily in that facility, for example, during a transfer or for an assessment only. This amendment seeks to ensure full coverage. It also seeks to ensure safeguarding. Everyone present in a registered acute mental health centre should be subject to the same standards of protection and treatment oversight.

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