Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have responded to the concerns raised by Senator van Turnhout. I am sure she was thinking at one stage that none of her remarks would ever penetrate. On Committee Stage I responded by proposing to insert the word "serious" in the provision. As proposed, a co-decision-maker now has to agree to the decision of a relevant person unless it would cause serious harm to the person or to another person. This amendment respects the right of the relevant person to take his or her own decisions, where at all possible. It will make it more difficult for a co-decision-maker to refuse to agree to a particular decision.