Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Excuse me if I am being naive about this amendment. The possibility of a review of someone's detention at six months is important in a holistic sense in terms of reintegration into a community. The detention is not a prison sentence. It is not rocket science to contend that someone should have the status of their health reviewed on an ongoing basis, be it weekly or monthly, never mind after six months. This should not even require legislation. It should be normal procedure to review a patient's mental health status on an ongoing basis but the Minister of State keeps talking about complexities. I wonder why now is not the time for him to outline the complexities associated with a person having his or her detention reviewed independently at six months. What exactly are the complexities involved in ensuring that someone has intervention at the earliest opportunity in their mental healthcare? When someone is discharged from detention, it does not mean they cannot still have ongoing involvement in community services, be it at six months or 12 months. One does not cut off healthcare at that stage. My point is on integration in respect of holistic and community care. We closed institutions in this country and our streets became our asylums and hotels our hostels.

I do not see the complexity in not further institutionalising people for up to 12 months when integration could be allowed for by having an earlier point of contact. Could the Minister of State talk us through why this would not just be a slam dunk? Obviously, it is much better to have an independent review at six months than at 12 months.