Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I want to examine this issue. The Senator will be aware that there is a misprint in the amendment, which refers to the "Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2003". The Act was not passed until this year, so it should read "Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006". However, her suggestion that this matter be considered is not bad and between now and Report Stage I will consider whether power should be given to the Minister to extend the video link provisions in the Bill to persons held, pursuant to the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act, in designated centres or to those who are in such centres, having been committed there. I do not want to stigmatise these individuals as prisoners. Nor do I want to extend the definition to include patients who, under the relevant Acts, are detainees.

I would probably only put in place an enabling section. The House can well appreciate that if a person was seriously psychiatrically ill, it might do him or her no favours if he or she was obliged to participate by video link in a court case or whatever. I presume the Senator envisaged the introduction of such a section rather than a mandatory provision.