Tony Kett (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for his contribution this morning, which will allow for the implementation of this long-overdue and long-awaited legislation. Practising lawyers have probably been seeking this legislation for many years. A long time has passed since psychiatrists used to refer to their patients as "lunatics" or as suffering from "lunacy". It speaks for itself that such terms continued to be used in our criminal insanity legislation. It was ridiculous that people who thought they should be excused from criminal liability by virtue of a mental disorder had to seek redress under the Trial of Lunatics Act 1883. I am not surprised that practitioners in this area were demanding change. The comprehensive legislation that is about to be approved deals medically and legally with those whose states of mind render them unable to sit in a court of law. This Bill is very welcome for that reason. I thank the Minister of State and his officials.