Mary Butler
Waterford · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Major improvements are happening across services: enhanced access to proactive and preventive healthcare to support a better quality of life; the embedding and upscaling of women's health initiatives put in place through the implementation of the previous women's health action plans, including, as the Senator knows, free contraception, sp…”
“In relation to any proposal, a proposal for a new location requires a detailed business case, a premises, support from the regional HSE management, and the necessary funding to resource the staffing of the service. That is where I come into it and what I will be trying to do.”
“We are currently working closely with it to support the expansion of Jigsaw services to Waterford and the south east, as well as to County Clare. The location of Waterford was picked because we have no services in the south east at all. It is great that we will have the hub and spoke model the Senator spoke about.”
“That is where I do not agree with the Senator. I believe €180 million of funding ring-fenced for women's health, when we have come from a low base, is absolutely unbelievable.”
“The plan will build on our knowledge of women's health through research and innovation and will spotlight important areas such as endometriosis and cardiovascular health. Recently, the Minister announced €2 million in funding for women's health research.”
“This plan will continue to focus on how we can improve access to specialist endometriosis care and treatment. As the Senator knows, we have established two super-regional specialist centres, one in Tallaght University Hospital and another in Cork, alongside the development of five regional endometriosis hubs.”
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“I thank the two Deputies. It is important we understand that negotiations are under way. There is a system and process in place and simply saying that does not cut it from a political perspective is not at all logical. There are children all over Ireland who need this drug. The Minister recognises that. There is a process in place. Italfarmaco, the pharmaceutical company, came with a proposal last Friday and the confidential commercial negotiations are under way. Today is Wednesday. The reason there was a delay between January and now is that the NCPE did not received the full HTA from the company until 15 January. It took four months.”
“I thank the Deputy for sharing the stories of the two families who will want to understand exactly where the hold-ups are.”
“The HTA has been completed and confidential commercial negotiations between the HSE’s corporate pharmaceutical unit and Italfarmaco have begun, with the receipt of a commercial offer from Italfarmaco on Friday, 8 May, which was last Friday. The HSE continues to engage with the applicant to progress this application in a timely manner. To be clear, the conclusion of the rapid of review was on 14 August. A full health technology assessment was commissioned by the HSE. The assessment of the pricing and reimbursement application for givinostat could not proceed until the NCPE received a full HTA from the company. That arrived on 15 January this year. The HTA has been completed now and confidential commercial negotiations are under way. A commercial offer was received from the company last Friday.”
“This is the importance piece. The Minister met with her Italian counterpart at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, EPSCO, meeting in June 2025 in Luxembourg to ask him to encourage the company, Italfarmaco, to submit a timely pricing and reimbursement application to Ireland. On 6 August 2025, an application for reimbursement was received by the HSE and underwent a rapid review by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. Following the conclusion of a rapid review on 14 August 2025, a full health technology assessment, HTA, was commissioned by the HSE on 26 August. The assessment of the pricing and reimbursement application for givinostat could not proceed until the NCPE received the HTA from the company almost four months later, on the 15 January 2026. I need to set out the timelines clearly.”
“To move completely to givinostat, it is sold under the brand name Duzyvat, for the treatment of DMD in ambulant patients aged six years or older. It has recently undergone assessment by the European Medicines Agency, EMA. The European Commission granted conditional marketing authorisation for use of givinostat in this indication on 6 June 2025. The Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. In line with the Act, a company must submit an application to the HSE to have a new medicine added to the formal reimbursement list. Reimbursement is for licensed indications that have been granted marketing authorisation by the EMA or Ireland’s Health Products Regulatory Authority.”
“I thank Deputies Gallagher and Doherty for raising this matter. I will be answering on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. As stated, Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare and progressive disease affecting the muscle strength and function of boys almost exclusively, with approximately ten children diagnosed with the condition each year. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has engaged with representative groups and the parents of children suffering from this condition several times over the past year. The Minister has followed progress closely and will be meeting with patient groups again this week. The Government is committed to providing timely access to new and innovative medicines and has made considerable investments in recent years, with annual expenditure on medicines now approaching €4 billion.”
“Whether it is public health nurses, nurses who are supporting you at end of life, nurses who are supporting you when you go into hospital or the nurse in your GP service, they are the backbone of health all over the country and I proud to salute them here today.”
“We have been challenged in some areas of Dublin, for example, in recruiting public health nurses into areas but I fervently believe, as somebody rooted in my own community, the importance of public health nurses, especially for older people when they are receiving the supports of home care, day care and meals on wheels, is to know that the public health nurse is there at a time when, for example, coming home from hospital, an older person might need a hospital bed or some kind of physical supports as well as the clinical supports that we provide to support older people to age well in their own community. We are very lucky in Ireland to have the calibre of nurses we have.”
“Together, mental health nurses working in partnership with colleagues across all fields of nursing strengthen integrated care, ensuring that every patient receives holistic, compassionate and seamless support throughout their health journey. I welcome the contributions of my fellow Deputies, and I hope they will join me in, once again, expressing our sincere gratitude for the dedication, courage and humanity that nurses demonstrate day in, day out. As former Minister of State for older people, I want to touch on the phenomenal work that public health nurses do in communities every day of the week. Whether it is supporting a mother with a new baby, supporting people at their end of life or supporting people to live their very best life, they play a phenomenal role in the community.”
“When we support and empower our nurses, particularly those working on the front line of mental health care, we strengthen our entire health system and improve outcomes for patients and service users across the country. Mental health nurses also play a critical role in supporting effective integration across physical, psychological and social services. This is essential to ensure continuity, improve outcomes and support holistic recovery for patients. This is important across CAMHS teams where you have multidisciplinary teams and the clinical nurse specialist embedded in the team, providing a huge amount of effective supports and reaching out to all the various definitions to make sure the young person receives the care that they need.”
“This is a clear statement of the value placed on mental health nursing and the recognition of its importance to the delivery of mental health care nationwide. International Nurses Day is an important opportunity to recognise the unwavering professionalism, compassion and expertise that nurses bring to every aspect of our health service. This is very evident in the area of mental health, where the training enables skill, empathy, and resilience that makes a profound difference to the lives of individuals and families every day. I want to restate my deepest appreciation for our nursing workforce and to reaffirm my commitment to strengthening the profession through an ongoing focus on safe staffing, professional support, leadership and working conditions.”
“However, nurses as the largest workforce can be disproportionately affected as reference by the Minister, Deputy MacNeill. The increased awareness of these issues has, however, identified evidence-based policy actions to assist in addressing them. I am pleased that in Ireland, the Government is supporting many of these actions. The Minister has set out the recent and ongoing policy responses, and it does not surprise me that nursing in Ireland is a global leader in some. This Government will continue to invest in our nursing workforce. Our commitment to this is reflected in our approach to workforce planning. All recent graduates, as I said, of psychiatric nursing programmes have been offered posts within our health service.”
“It is important to acknowledge the realities of nursing in the mental health sector and, indeed, nurses and midwives across all sectors. Many work in settings that are highly demanding, emotionally complex and, at times, high risk. We are aware that these pressures can contribute to reduced job satisfaction, stress, burnout and challenges with staff retention. My colleague referred to the recent INMO survey highlighting high levels of burnout, stress and exposure to growing levels of violence and aggression at work. The WHO Mental Health of Nurses and Doctors, MeND, survey in 2025 found similar results across the European region. These issues are not unique to Ireland or, indeed, nursing. This is a reality globally for the health and social care workforce.”
“Funding provided in budget 2026 supports expansion to a total of 45 posts nationally through the allocation of six new SCAN teams for Kerry, Limerick, Galway, Kildare, Dublin south city and an under-18 team for Linn Dara in West Dublin-Kildare. An under-18 SCAN service commenced in Donegal in July 2025. As the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, said, this Government is fully committed to facilitating nurses to continue to work to the top of their licence. Supporting advanced and specialist pathways not only strengthen services but also supports retention, professional autonomy and leadership within the workforce. These developments are essential to building a sustainable mental health system that can meet current and future demand.”
“Similarly, the suicide crisis assessment nurse, SCAN, service is another example of how our nurses go above and beyond for their patients' well-being. SCAN is a key component of national suicide prevention and crisis response efforts. It provides a timely response to requests from GPs for the assessment of people experiencing suicidal crisis, with assessments often taking place in primary care or community settings. The SCAN service provides a short-term, specialist, community-based clinical response for individuals presenting with suicidal ideation or self-harm that does not require acute hospital admission. As of 2025, there are 33 funded SCAN clinical nurse specialist posts for adults operating across 15 counties, alongside three under-18 SCAN services.”
“While we are continuing to expand crisis alternatives in the community, we know people in distress will always present to hospital for emergency care. In responding to this reality, I believe the solution is to establish specialist nursing teams in our emergency departments, staffed by advanced nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists working out of hours to support the non-consultant hospital doctor on duty and the consultant on call. I have funded these new teams for all model 4 hospitals in budget 2026, and I will do the same for model 3 hospitals in the next two budgets. This is further recognition of the role nursing can play in expanding the scope of how we provide mental health services and utilise the extensive skills and experience of our nursing workforce.”
“I want to give a special shout-out to mental health nurses who work across the psychiatry of later life. They do an amazing job supporting older people at a time in their lives when all they want to do is stay at home to live their best lives in their own communities. They actually go to the house to support people who might have an enduring mental health condition or who might be struggling with anxiety or distress. I have seen it first hand and I cannot pay enough tribute to them for the work they do and their kindness and understanding of the client who they are seeing. We see this also in the delivery of services such as the national clinical programme for suicide ideation and self-harm where experienced and skilled nurses work in our emergency departments to respond in real time and provide support to people in severe distress.”
“I am also aware of how lucky we are in Ireland to train mental health nurses at undergraduate level. Across the EU, most countries do not train mental health nurses as a separate undergraduate field. Every mental health nurse who graduated last year in Ireland was offered a position here. It is important to acknowledge that. The role of the mental health nurse has evolved significantly in recent years. We are seeing clinical leadership and a growing level of specialisation across the workforce, reflecting both the complexity of need within services and the expertise required to meet it. Mental health nurses work across a broad range of advanced and specialist roles, contributing not only to direct care but also to assessment, care co-ordination, prescribing, governance and service development.”
“Their work, like that of all nurses and midwives, is grounded in clinical expertise, therapeutic relationships and sustained commitment to personcentred care. They are often the consistent presence for people navigating complex mental health needs, building trust over time and supporting continuity of care across services. Nursing roles today are carried out in a context of significant and evolving demand. Mental health needs in our society are increasingly complex, services are multidisciplinary and care pathways extend well beyond traditional clinical settings. Mental health nurses are essential to navigating and responding to these challenges. I have seen first hand how nurses adapt practice, support innovation and help to shape how modern mental health services are delivered.”
“I am pleased to join the Minister for Health today in marking International Nurses Day and in recognising the extraordinary contribution nurses make to our health service and society. I was also pleased as Chief Whip to fulfil the request by Deputy Devine, who wanted these statements held. I was pleased to be able to put this onto the agenda because it is important that we acknowledge the fabulous work nurses do. As the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, I would like to make special mention of the role of mental health nurses in the health service. Mental health nurses look after some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. They support individuals at moments of acute distress, at points of recovery and throughout longterm engagement with services.”
“Gov SF Lab Gov SF Mins 20 20 20 12 4 SD Gov SF IPTG Gov Mins 20 12 4 20 12 SF ITG Gov SF OM Mins 4 20 12 4 20 Total: 3 hours 24 minutes”
“with consequential effect on the commencement time for Second Stage of the Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill 2025, and on the time for the adjournment of the Dáil; and 2. the proceedings on the Second Stage of the Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be interrupted and stand adjourned at the end of the first speaking round and the following arrangements shall apply: ( a ) the first-round speeches, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the table below (to be read across); ( b ) where speeches conclude before the 3 hours and 24 minutes have elapsed and no other member is offering, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a speech in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and (c) members may share time.”
“the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 1 hour by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; and 7. the proceedings on the Motion re Presentation and Circulation of Further Revised Estimate for Public Services 2026 [Vote 26] shall be taken without debate, and any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately. In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that: 1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, topical issues may be taken earlier than 7.24 p.m.”
“the proceedings on the Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto: (a) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:- — opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State – 10 minutes; — speeches by representatives of Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group – 7.5 minutes per party or group; — speeches by Other Members – 7.5 minutes in total; and — a speech in response by the Minister – 5 minutes; (b) members may share time; and ( c ) any division claimed thereon shall be taken immediately; 6.”
“the proceedings on the Report and Final Stages of the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025 shall be taken no earlier than 4.30 p.m. and shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours by one question which shall be put from the Chair, and which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration; 5.”
“notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 177(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours; 3. the Statements on the National Safety Camera Strategy shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: ( a ) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across); ( b ) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and (c) members may share time; Gov SF Lab Gov SF Mins 25 15 10 10 3 SD Gov SF IPTG Gov Mins 10 10 3 9 10 SF ITG Gov SF OM Mins 3 9 10 3 5 Total: 2 hours 15 mins 4.”
“In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that: 1. the ordinary routine of business as contained in Schedule 3 to Standing Orders shall be modified to the following extent: ( a ) in the event that the Statements on the National Safety Camera Strategy conclude before 4.30 p.m., the sitting shall stand suspended until 4.30 p.m., when the order of business shall resume with the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025; ( b ) any motions to be taken without debate shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on the Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026; and ( c ) the weekly division time shall be taken on the conclusion of proceedings on any motions without debate, and the Dáil shall adjourn on the conclusion of the weekly division time; 2.”
“the Statements on International Nurses Day shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: ( a ) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across); ( b ) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and ( c ) members may share time; and Gov SF Lab Gov SF Mins 25 15 10 10 3 SD Gov SF IPTG Gov Mins 10 10 3 9 10 SF ITG Gov SF OM Mins 3 9 10 3 5 Total: 2 hours 15 mins 3. notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 177(2), the proceedings on Second Stage of the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026 shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 2 hours.”
“( a ) the time allocated to Government business shall be extended in accordance with the arrangements for that business and the Dáil may sit later than 10.48 p.m.; and ( b ) private members business shall be taken on conclusion of the Statements on International Nurses Day, with consequential effect on the commencement times for the items following in the ordinary routine of business; 2.”
“Thursday's business shall be: - Industrial Development (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 (Second Stage) (if not previously concluded, to adjourn at the end of the first speaking round) Thursday evening business shall be the Second Stage of the Sanctions against the State of Israel Bill 2025, sponsored by Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett. Proposed Arrangements for this week’s business: In relation to Tuesday's business, it is proposed that: 1. notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders: .”
“and to conclude within 2 hrs) - Motion to Instruct the Committee on the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 (to conclude within 1 hour and any division claimed to be taken immediately) - Critical Infrastructure Bill 2026 (Report and Final Stages) (to conclude within 1 hour) - Motion re Presentation and Circulation of Further Revised Estimate for Public Services 2026 [Vote 26] (without debate and any division claimed to be taken immediately) Wednesday's private members' business shall be the Second Stage of the Reproductive Rights (Amendment) Bill 2026, selected by Social Democrats.”
“I move: Tuesday's business shall be: - Statements on International Nurses Day (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes) Tuesday's private members' business shall be the Second Stage of the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2026, selected by Sinn Féin. Wednesday's business shall be: - Statements on the National Safety Camera Strategy (not to exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes) (Dept of Transport) - Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) (Amendment) Bill 2025 (Report and Final Stages) (to be taken no earlier than 4.30 p.m.”
“the Statements to mark Europe Day shall not exceed 2 hours and 25 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: (a) the statements, not including the Ministerial response, shall be in accordance with the sequence contained in the table immediately below (to be read across); (b) following the statements, a Minister or Minister of State shall be called upon to make a statement in reply which shall not exceed 10 minutes; and (c) members may share time. Gov SF Lab Gov SF Mins 25 15 10 10 3 SD Gov SF IPTG Gov Mins 10 10 3 9 10 SF ITG Gov SF OM Mins 3 9 10 3 5 Total: 2 hours 15 mins”
“notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders: (a) no motion for a Committee report pursuant to Standing Order 111 or private member's Bill pursuant to Standing Order 169 shall be taken; (b) private members' business pursuant to Standing Order 168(1) shall be taken for 2 hours on conclusion of the Statements to mark Europe Day; and (c) topical issues shall be taken on the conclusion of private members' business, and the Dáil shall adjourn on the conclusion of topical issues; and 2.”
“the Statements on the Scoping Exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients on behalf of victims and survivors of Michael Shine shall not exceed 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply: (a) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:- — opening statement by a Minister or Minister of State – 10 minutes; — statements by representatives of Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group – 7.5 minutes per party or group; — statements by non-party/group members – 7.5 minutes in total; — a statement in response by the Minister – 5 minutes; and (b ) members may share time. In relation to Thursday's business, it is proposed that: 1.”
“the proceedings on the Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Convention Establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion after 60 minutes and the following arrangements shall apply thereto: (a) the order of speaking and allocation of time shall be as follows:- — opening speech by a Minister or Minister of State – 10 minutes; — speeches by representatives of Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, Social Democrats, Independent and Parties Technical Group, and Independent Technical Group – 7.5 minutes per party or group; — speeches by non-party/group members – 7.5 minutes in total; — a speech in response by the Minister – 5 minutes; and (b) members may share time; and 3.”
“notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders: (a) Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall not be taken, and Government business shall commence at the time when Parliamentary Questions to the Taoiseach would normally be taken; (b) private members business shall be taken following the Statements on the Scoping Exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients on behalf of victims and survivors of Michael Shine; (c) Parliamentary Questions to a Minister pursuant to Standing Order 47(1) shall not be taken; and (d) topical issues shall be taken on the conclusion of private members business; 2.”
“I move: Wednesday 's business shall be: - Motion re Proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the Convention Establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine (to conclude within 60 minutes) - Statements on the Scoping Exercise in response to requests from Dignity4Patients on behalf of victims and survivors of Michael Shine (to conclude within 60 minutes) Wednesday 's private members' business shall be the Motion re Dublin City Flat Complex Retrofit and Regeneration, selected by Sinn Féin. Thursday's business shall be: - Statements to mark Europe Day (to conclude within 2 hours and 25 minutes) Thursday 's private members' business shall be the Motion re Cost of Living Mini-Budget, selected by the Labour Party. Proposed Arrangements for this week’s business: In relation to Wednesday's business, it is proposed that: 1.”
“I thank James Kelly, Lorraine Doyle, Siobhán Hargis, Philip Dodd, deputy chief medical officer, my advisers, Ian Power and Páraic Gallagher, and my private secretary, Amy Brennan, for all their hard work, advice and support throughout this process. I am extremely grateful to colleagues in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, the Office of the Attorney General and the Bills Office. I thank them for all their work. Getting here today would not have been possible without their valuable expertise, support and input. I also thank the Ceann Comhairle and Leas-Cheann Comhairle for powering through the amendments today. This Bill will make a profound difference to the lives of tens of thousands of people each year, whether through in-patient care, community residences or community services. It has been a significant journey.”
“I wish to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the people with lived experience of mental health services - those living the experience and their loved ones - for taking the time to engage with the Department at different points when the Bill was being drafted. I received a lot of correspondence from many different perspectives, and every view was considered and debated at length. The wide-ranging and extensive consultation with stakeholders from all sectors and the comprehensive review of the existing Act have delivered a new legal framework that will absolutely deliver on its aims. I thank the officials in the mental health unit for their tremendous work in developing and progressing the Bill over the past number of years.”
“Considering the significant legal and ethical considerations involved in the Bill, it was important to ensure that there was ongoing consultation with key stakeholders throughout the drafting process. In particular, there was extensive consultation with the Mental Health Commission, as the regulator of mental health services, and the HSE, as the main provider of mental health services in the State. I thank the Mental Health Commission for all its support. The Department consulted widely with other stakeholders and professional representative groups such as the Irish College of Psychiatrists, the Psychological Society of Ireland, the Ombudsman for Children, the Irish Council of Civil Liberties, Mental Health Reform and its various member organisations, other Departments and State agencies such as An Garda Síochána.”
“We all share the same goal, namely to ensure this legislation will facilitate the putting in place of a more robust framework in which our mental health services will be delivered and regulated into the future. I thank my colleagues in government for their continued support. I particularly thank the Taoiseach for reappointing me to this role in order that I could complete the work on the Bill right to the end. I thank the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, for all her support and former Minister Stephen Donnelly, who was a huge champion for this legislation. I also thank my colleagues the Ministers of State, Deputies Murnane O'Connor and O'Donnell. I offer my appreciation to Ministers, Deputies Foley and Deputy O'Callaghan, and their officials for the extensive contributions by their Departments on different aspects of the Bill.”
“I am delighted that I have been able to oversee this Bill from the publication of the draft heads right through to enactment. The Bill will now go to the President for her consideration. I look forward to getting into the details of commencement and implementation as soon as possible. I thank Deputies Paul McAuliffe, Sorca Clarke, Marie Sherlock, Liam Quaide and Michael Collins for supporting the final version of this Bill. It is very telling that the former Opposition spokesperson on mental health, who was very supportive of the Bill, Deputy Mark Ward, is here. I acknowledge all his work over the period; it has taken quite a few years to reach this point.”
“This Bill will regulate all community mental health services for the first time, including all community CAMHS and all community residences. This Bill will allow 16- and 17-year-olds to consent to their mental health treatment on the same basis as consent to physical health treatment. This Bill introduces a suite of new safeguards around the involuntary admission and detention process, including the use of restrictive practice and the administration of treatment to people lacking capacity. The final version of the Bill before us today is over 200 pages long. It contains 268 sections. Each line of the Bill has been considered by officials in my Department and been the subject of thorough debate with the drafters in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. A Bill of this size and complexity takes time.”
“Agus é sin á dhéanamh againn, cuirfimid daoine i gcroílár a gcúraim féin agus léireoimid meas ar a gcearta agus a roghanna. We are concluding the legislative process relating to this Bill after 45 hours of debate across both Houses. I published this Bill in July 2024 and brought it to Second Stage that September. I was pleased to see the level of interest in the Bill in both Houses. We had many hours of productive debate on the provisions of the Bill. I thank every Deputy and Senator who took the time to speak on the Bill and to propose amendments. The purpose of this Bill is to introduce a more person-centred, human rights-based approach to mental health services in statute. It will empower people accessing mental health services to make decisions about their own care and treatment – respecting their voice and choice.”
“I thank Deputies for the debate today on this landmark legislation to update and modernise our mental health laws. The enactment of this Bill has been a long-standing priority for me and for the Government, and I am very proud to see it being passed here today. The Bill will now go to Uachtarán na hÉireann for her consideration. This is once-in-a-generation legislation. The previous Mental Health Act was enacted in 2001 by our current Taoiseach. The previous legislation was enacted in 1945. The Bill that we are passing here today will stand the test of time. I hope it will be in place for many years - if not decades - to come. Táim bródúil as a bheith i mo Aire Stáit chun an dlí seo a rith, a tháinig uair amháin i nglúin, chun feabhas a chur ar ár seirbhísí sláinte meabhrach.”
“I would be confident that nobody will lose a pathway. All of the patients at the time will be patients of an approved centre. The Mental Health Commission will play a role here and the HSE will play a significant role here. Their role will be to ensure that every single person under the new Act has his or her rights vindicated. We will keep a close eye on it.”
“It will better vindicate the rights of people detained under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 and ensure that this group of people will have access to the additional protections of the Mental Health Act 2026.”
“This is a positive step, as it will ensure that both Acts are aligned and that people detained under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act can enjoy the additional safeguards and protections of the new Mental Health Act 2026. This includes the additional safeguards around consent to treatment and the use of restrictive practices. In addition to the extensive consultation carried out, legal advice was provided to my Department and the Department of justice that provided assurances that the amendments were appropriate. These are two very complex Acts and they deal with very vulnerable people with acute mental disorders. I was delighted to be able to carry the amendments on Report Stage in the Seanad and I am assured that both Departments are satisfied with the changes. The inclusion of these amendments is a very positive development.”
“These amendments all relate to the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 and were introduced following extensive consultation between my Department and the Department of justice as well as consultation between both Departments and the Attorney General’s Office. The Department of justice is the Department with policy responsibility for this Act, so it was important that it supported all amendments. That Department carried out consultation with its own stakeholders, including the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Criminal Law Review Board. Officials in my own Department consulted with the National Forensic Mental Health Service regarding these amendments. These amendments update the references throughout the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act from the Mental Health Act 2001 to the Mental Health Act 2026.”