Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green Party)

I very much respect people's choice in these matters but it must be clear that it is their choice. I hope, if the Minister of State deals with the issue and brings the Bill to the other House, that the suggestions being made will be enacted. I hope she will take on board sufficient safeguards to ensure that ECT is clearly the choice of the patient and that he or she is in a fit state to make the choice, or if a relative or other person is making the decision that it is based on the previous known will of the patient.

ECT is interesting as a treatment in that it is not fully scientifically proven. It does have unusual effects from time to time. I wish to compare it to St. John's wort in particular. The Irish Medicines Board has examined St. John's wort, which is used for the treatment of mild depression, so the matter is linked in a certain way. St. John's wort is banned on the basis that its efficacy is not completely proven, yet people all over the world use it regularly. It is possible to buy it in Northern Ireland for use in the State. It is also possible for certain practitioners to prescribe it, but it is not possible for people to buy it and use it by choice.

To return to Senator Harris's argument, he referred to Garret FitzGerald's great quote about something working in practice but asking whether it works in theory. There is the famous argument that bumblebees should not be able to fly and that it is scientifically impossible for them to do so, yet the little blighters are flying around our heads all the time. It is important we would be consistent in the way we treat such issues. It is not acceptable that one treatment should be allowed because it suits certain vested interests but another treatment should not. Ultimately, it is about what is best for the patient. I accept that in certain cases if a patient wishes ECT to be used then it should be possible for that to happen. Likewise, the same should happen across the board. It is empirically proven that St. John's wort is of great benefit to many people who are depressed. It is a mild medicine derived from a plant one can grow in one's back garden. Certain people grow it and use the plant. It is not illegal. Certain Members who got elected to the other House have different plants growing in their back garden. This particular plant is not illegal for use but its sale is banned as a medicine in health food stores.

We should put the patient's welfare first. We should also take a consistent approach to treatments that could be of benefit to a patient if he or she wishes to use it and it is not proven to be harmful. I support the Bill in every way and commend Senator Boyle on bringing it forward.