Results 601-620 of 1,966 for speaker:Mary Henry

Seanad: Citizenship Rights for Non-Nationals: Motion (7 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: Some 30 years ago he stated that Irish people were not racist because we were all much the same but that if we could be, we would be, which was rather depressing. I can understand the Minister's reasons for bringing forth this amendment. It is not creating fortress Ireland; it is a perfectly reasonable amendment. There is genuine concern that there will be a racist reaction from many people...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: I will not argue with the Minister on the rights and wrongs of having a judge on the body, as he has greater expertise than me in this area. However, it would be wiser to treat mentally ill people the same way. We are hoping that these people are being detained in a medical facility. International obligations on the treatment of people with mental illness, such as UN principles and Council of...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: People are being dealt with differently because one person is detained in time before committing an awful crime. The responsibilities of the tribunal members are just as serious. Getting a person with a serious mental illness who has violent intent into hospital before he killed or injured someone does not mean there is less of a responsibility than if one is dealing with someone who actually...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: People are rarely involuntarily admitted unless they are a danger to themselves or to others. They are usually involuntarily admitted for such reasons.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: Approximately 30% of the people in the Central Mental Hospital have not committed crimes. I would not like the public to lose confidence in the tribunals, because certain people could represent as much of a danger if the tribunals were to release them. I would not like to think that we are driven by the media in respect of issues as serious as dealing with people with mental illness.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: I agree with the Minister on this occasion. However, a section of this exact type was included in the Immigration Act 2004, the Schedule to which refers to "delirium" and "hallucinations" at the port of entry. One would need to shape up and to look pretty normal. If such a provision was included in the Immigration Act, why is it not being included in this legislation? Why is there such...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: Having been obliged to deal with matters in a practical manner all my life, while the Minister comes from a more esoteric realm, I know that if one tries to keep things consistent one comes out with a pretty good result in the end because everyone knows where they are supposed to be. We have international obligations — that is why I was so furious about the Immigration Bill. If someone...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: I move amendment No. 10: In page 4, subsection (1), line 27, after "may" to insert ", on the advice of the Inspector of Mental Health Services". This is an easy one. I am delighted to see that the Minister for Health and Children will be consulted, but we should not expect him to know exactly how things stand in the various mental hospitals of the country. It would be a good idea to allow him...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: I will rephrase it in a way the Minister would like. I asked that the Minister for Health and Children should consult with the inspector of mental services but that does not mean that the inspector has a veto. The Minister may think it is rubbish and proceed to do what he wants, anyway. The commission is very likely to ask the advice of its inspector, who is its employee and is obliged to...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: I move amendment No. 11: In page 4, subsection (1), to delete all words after "designate" in lines 27 and 28 down to and including "centre')" in line 31, and substitute "an approved centre within the meaning of the Mental Health Act of 2001". I wish to insert this wording because it is considered inadvisable, and is not considered therapeutic, to establish psychiatric centres in prisons. I...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: This runs counter to the First UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Prisoners 1955, which was approved in 1957. That congress listed standard minimum rules for prisons, one of which stated that "Prisoners found insane shall not be detained in prisons and shall be removed to mental institutions as soon as possible." The same set of minimum rules went on to suggest that...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: I move amendment No. 12: In page 4, subsection (1), line 32, to delete "care or treatment" and substitute "care and treatment in conditions of high, medium or low therapeutic security as designated by the Inspector of Mental Health Services". I am concerned about the use of the term "care or treatment" in the Bill because "care" can mean controlling and detaining a person. It is unfortunate...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: No. The Minister's answer was very satisfactory.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: I move amendment No. 13: In page 4, subsection (3), line 37, to delete "Part IV of the Act of 2001" and substitute "All of the protections of the Act of 2001, including Parts III, IV, VI and any other parts relevant to the independent review of the involuntary admission of such persons". I move this amendment because these mentally ill people should have the protection of the Mental Health...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: I accept the Minister's comments.

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: I move amendment No. 14: In page 4 subsection (4), to delete lines 41 to 43, and substitute the following definition: "'relevant designated centre' means the designated centre at the appropriate level of security for the part of the country where the patient ordinarily resides, or the Central Mental Hospital.". The amendment proposes a practical measure, which it would be wise to include....

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: I move amendment No. 16: In page 5, subsection (2), line 5, after "if" to insert "having obtained the opinions of two approved medical officers, one of whom is the clinical director of a designated centre, the court finds that". This is self-explanatory. It would be wise early in proceedings if a person is suspected of being mentally ill to have him or her seen by two approved medical...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: Does the Minister think I am looking for jobs for my friends, such as two senior counsel and one junior, that sort of thing? Some people pretend to be mad and are very good at it. We probably have more trouble with that than anything else. One need not have them, if that is the case. Section 3(2) states "if he or she is unable by reason of..." Would it be better to substitute "incapable" for...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: I move amendment No. 19: In page 5, subsection (3)(a), line 19, after "Court" to insert "having obtained the opinions of twoconsultant psychiatrists, one of whom is the relevant psychiatrist at the relevant designated centre or the Central Mental Hospital". The court would benefit from the advice of the psychiatrist of the centre to which it is proposed to send the person. It is not a...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002: Committee Stage (Resumed). (8 Apr 2004)

Mary Henry: This is all very well, but there are no practical provisions in the Bill to make available resources to allow people to be maintained at the facility. The Minister is aware of the utterly appalling condition of the Central Mental Hospital. Approximately 30 beds at the hospital are unavailable because of an embargo on staff recruitment. What is the hospital supposed to do with people sent to...