Mary Henry (Independent)

This raises an issue that displeases me. According to the terms of the Bill, the review body is under the control of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and must report to him.

I draw attention to the advice given by Mr. Justice Henchy in the third interim report of the interdepartmental committee on mentally ill and maladjusted persons. This was the basis from which we thought we were starting. The mental care review body in this legislation, referred to as the review body, shall consist of a chairman and deputy chairman appointed by the Minister for Health and Children after consultation with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, one member and one substitute member appointed by the Minister for Health and Children, one member and one substitute member appointed by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and two members appointed by the Minister for Health and Children from a panel of five psychiatrists nominated by the executive council of the Irish division of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

This seems more concerned with the issue of health and the prisoner becoming a patient as opposed to what we have now.