Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans in the forthcoming year to publish the Mental Health Capacity Bill with particular reference to the many persons currently affected by the Wards of Court process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52486/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the Mental Capacity Bill and I refer him to my response to Question No. 467 of 20 November 2012 in which I said the following:

"The Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a Mental Capacity Bill that is in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The proposals in the Scheme of the Bill, as published, have required extensive revision in order to meet that objective. Drafting of the Bill is at a very advanced stage and the Government Legislation Programme indicates that the Bill is expected to be published in the current session. "


The Bill proposes replacement of the Wards of Court system with a modern statutory framework to support persons with impaired decision-making ability.