Dáil debates

Wednesday, 9 July 2025

Mental Health Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages

 

9:10 am

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)

I understand that completely. My concern is that “not later than five years” can mean four years and 364 days. I want to see something that is more tangible, and I think it needs to be put into this Bill. While five years is a standardised approach, two and a half years is much more effective because it allows us, as legislators, to make the appropriate changes as soon as possible. It means those who are delivering the care, receiving the care or advocating on behalf of those receiving the care can point to a definitive line or definitive timeframe and say that the review will be done within two and a half years. If the full review was to be done within the four years and 364 days, that is well and good, but two and a half years is a halfway point. It allows people to look at it, engage with it and ensure that those of us who have been handed the responsibility of managing and developing legislation act as quickly as is appropriate.

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