Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are quite a lot of questions and I will do my best to get through them as best I can.

I knew this legislation was coming and have heard a lot about it since I took up my position on 1 July. Six weeks ago and before we went back into lockdown, I took the opportunity to visit both sites. I first visited the Dundrum facility where I met Professor Kennedy and some of his team. Due to Covid restrictions I was unable to see where some inmates, residents or detainees are detained but I saw quite a lot and spoke to some of the people who work there. It is a fantastic and beautiful site. I was unaware of it previously and when I drove there the high walls obscured a splendid Victorian building. I next visited Portrane hospital.