In response to some of the ongoing concerns expressed by the inspector over many years, legislative change is now under way. The Mental Act, 2001, was signed into law in July 2001. The Act provides for the establishment of the Mental Health Commission, which was established with effect from 5 April 2002. The commission is an independent statutory body whose primary functions are to promote, foster and encourage the establishment and maintenance of high standards and good practices in the delivery of mental health services and to protect the interests of people detained for psychiatric care and treatment. While the detailed work programme of the commission is a matter for the commission itself to determine, I understand one of its priorities over the next year will be to put in place the structures required for the operation of mental health tribunals. It will also be recruiting an inspector of mental health services, as provided by the Act, and assisting him or her in putting a system of annual inspections and reports in place.