Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

During the Committee Stage debate on amendments Nos. 20 and 24, as moved by Senator Henry, in the context of the involvement of the clinical director of a designated centre in the court process, particularly in regard to whether the particular institution would assume responsibility for a person, the Minister said that the period of referral, as provided for in the sections, could be reduced and the purpose of these two amendments is to reduce the initial holding period from 28 days to 14 days. This should facilitate clinical directors when they are faced with the prospect of a person being referred to them for assessment. At least Senator Henry has saved the clinical director 14 days.