Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that No. 12 on the Order Paper be taken before No. 1. The Bill I wish to introduce aims to right a long-standing anomaly. At present, 16 and 17 year olds can give consent on their physical or dental health but they must be 18 to consent to mental health treatment. The expert review of the Mental Health Act recommended this be addressed without delay, and this is what I am doing today. The legislation is about rights and stating mental health should be treated with the same set of principles as physical health. It is about young people having rights over their own mental healthcare. It is about the stigmatising mental health. It is apt that it would take place in this month of May, which is mental health month. It has been drafted carefully with our internal drafters here and with the guidance of young mental health advocates. I hope that Senators on all sides will support the Bill.