Seanad debates

Wednesday, 2 December 2009

Mental Health (Involuntary Procedures) (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage

 

6:00 pm

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Fine Gael)

I support Senator Boyle's comments. It is important that any consultation involves the user groups. We must also hear the views of the professionals involved in the area and it is critical that the consultation be comprehensive. We are coming from a position with psychiatry where user groups did not have the kind of voice they needed, although I am thankful this is changing. There is a way to go with the issue and the way this consultation unfolds could be important in developing that role for user groups. I congratulate those involved with the user groups because they have been pioneers in ensuring a focus on the client, patient and user of services. It is critical to get that balance as it has been missing in so many areas of life, particularly in psychiatry. It is great to see such change and we must do everything possible to encourage it.

If March is the deadline, will Ireland have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities by then? It would be a good template to measure what we are doing in the area. Will the same deadline apply to the capacity legislation and the review of the mental health legislation? We need a holistic approach to what is being discussed and there are rights issues involving voluntary as well as involuntary patients, electroconvulsive therapy, ECT, and other areas. We are asking much of the Minister of State but all of these issues are intertwined. We will get the best result if they are dealt with holistically.

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