Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also believe a definition is vital because we must have agreement on what we are talking about. When SAGE put its case to me, I had to ask what was meant by the term "chemical restraint" because I wanted to make sure we were talking about the same thing. This Bill, without a definition of chemical restraint, will not be strong enough to prevent the use of drugs to control behaviour for disciplinary or other purposes. The term must be defined and clearly understood throughout the text of the Bill. My thoughts go out to the poor, weak, vulnerable people who are being managed by drugs when talk therapy or other approaches would be more satisfactory.

I also ask the Minister of State to clarify what she means when she says that chemical restraint should only be used in exceptional circumstances. I agree with that but ask where that assurance is laid out in the Bill.