Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Clarke for the amendment. Section 8 of the Bill provides for a review of the operation of this enactment five years after its commencement. If it is necessary for a review to be carried out sooner than five years after the commencement of this enactment, that option will be available to the Government of the day. Section 8 of the Bill provides for a review to take place not later than five years after commencement. This means that the review may take place at any time within the five-year period if it is the wish of the Minister of the day; that is my understanding.

I believe we will need significant time for the legislation to bed in across the mental health services and there will be a significant lead-in time, as we have discussed. I am not sure whether we would be able to deliver a meaningful review after two and a half years. However, section 8 of the Bill, which we have already voted on, provides for a review to take place not later than five years after commencement, which means the review can take place at any time within the five-year period. Therefore, I think it is already covered.

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