Results 1,381-1,400 of 7,412 for speaker:Neasa Hourigan

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Department of Health (2 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: I thank everyone for their contributions today. I cannot think of any more important work for us this year than the oversight of this legislation. It is an incredibly important piece of work and I thank our witnesses for taking the time to bring us through the general scheme. I am in the same position as Deputy Buckley in terms of only starting this conversation. It will take a lot of...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Department of Health (2 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: That is an important point because it means we will need to keep an eye on that legislation too.

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Department of Health (2 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: My next question relates to a similar matter but does not concern domestic legislation. I acknowledge there are many references to human rights and international human rights law. What are the key international or supranational agreements we should consider?

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Department of Health (2 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: That would be very helpful. To return to the criminal law aspect, I have been reading through the documentation but Mr. Kelly might flag where we are introducing issues that relate more specifically to the justice area and include aspects of criminal law or criminal accountability. The Department may wish to send further detail to the committee later but Mr. Kelly might just flag a few...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Department of Health (2 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: That was going to be my next question. Are any of the issues around criminal liability in respect of proprietors? For example, if somebody engaged with the mental health tribunals who should not have been there and was committing fraud, are there any criminal aspects to do with placing criminal liability on a person in management, administration or oversight? It is hard to phrase this...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Department of Health (2 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: That is fraudulent registrations or fraudulent operation. Is there nothing around neglect? We have legislation around neglect but it can be difficult to action. Is there anything in that arena?

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Department of Health (2 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: That is fine. I have many more questions if I can continue, Chair.

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Department of Health (2 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: I have some general questions, but I will use specific examples to explain what I am asking. One of the areas I read in detail was on involuntary admission which I know will garner more attention that other aspects. Some issues it raised for me are more general questions. One of the issues around involuntary admission is how long it lasts, how one is directed to it, and whether it is...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Department of Health (2 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: I have a follow-up question, although it may have been answered already. Does the changing nature of the structures within the health service pose a challenge when writing this legislation as it relates to governance? We have the Central Mental Hospital and a whole spectrum of service providers across the country right now. We are hopefully going through a period of change and we are also...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Department of Health (2 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: Who has oversight of the staffing of a health tribunal?

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Department of Health (2 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: Will the commission undertake work on the suitability of lay people?

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Department of Health (2 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: I echo what was said by Deputy Buckley. Does this legislation concern itself with best practice for residential mental health facilities? Are there guidelines for transitioning between services? We have heard in the last few months when this matter arose that everybody has a unique care plan. Therefore, there are no guidelines and no references to best practice so that proprietors can do...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Department of Health (2 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: I did not suggest that there should be a template. Are proprietors given guidelines? Is it envisaged that proprietors would receive guidelines or information on best practice for all of the people who reside in a particular placement and what that looks like? Otherwise it seems to be devolved, almost nebulous and difficult for proprietors to get a sense of what good practice would look...

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Department of Health (2 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: That is helpful and I will return to the criminal law aspect. In respect of the domestic legislation, does the Department envisage that on the conclusion of this work, there will be amendments to the Acts Mr. Kelly mentioned?

Joint Committee On Health: General Scheme of the Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Department of Health (2 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: What role does a mental health tribunal play?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Remit, Terms of Reference and Priorities: Commission on Taxation and Welfare (3 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: We have a quorum and the committee is now in public session. No apologies have been received. Members in attendance are asked to exercise personal responsibility in protecting themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19. They are strongly advised to practice good hand hygiene and leave at least one vacant seat between them and others attending. They should also always...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Remit, Terms of Reference and Priorities: Commission on Taxation and Welfare (3 Nov 2021)

Neasa Hourigan: I take Professor Moloney's point that the commission is at an early stage. It was not by accident that we asked to meet with it at this point because we would like to engage with the commission as much as possible throughout the process.