Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit arís. It is a good day to be debating the Bill and I hope we will get through it in an expedient manner.I concur with Senator Jillian van Turnhout on the issues she is raising because I note that a number of organisations, such as Inclusion Ireland, have raised this as a particular issue. The thought of placing the decision support service within the Courts Service was not one with which they were comfortable. The organisations that have been in contact with us have asked for an office with an independent function separate from the Courts Service with a director recruited through the Public Appointments Service. This would afford independence, transparency and an opportunity for a fresh start with the new support structure. If the Minister of State has taken this step, why did she go with the Mental Health Commission rather than set it up as an independent body in its own right, which is what was called for?