Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I move amendment No. 17:

In page 12, subsection (8)(a), line 11, to delete "may" and substitute "shall".

The amendment seeks to ensure that the person affected by the assessment would be consulted. As the Bill stands, this is discretionary. I see no reason for not having an obligation that the applicant would be consulted, met, interviewed and so on. This happens in many other areas of the health service. For example, community welfare officers would meet with a person when making a decision about that person's needs. This should be a basic requirement under the Bill. The whole point of the legislation is that the person should be involved and, where possible, consulted. I urge the Minister of State to accept the amendment.