Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2020-03-27
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Máire Devine (SF), Labour Panel

I want to emphasise the lack of rights for patients in involuntary arrangements prior to the setting up of the Mental Health Commission and tribunal. What Senator Higgins is alluding to is the continual passing on and the rubber-stamping regarding involuntary arrangements. That is what happened before the legislation. It was really about giving rights and voices to patients incarcerated in various circumstances. All hope was almost lost at that time. This proposal is to make progress on that and to ensure we do not lose the humanity that allows for people's recovery and allows them to have a voice.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2020-03-27/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:48:15+00:00
Sitting date: 2020-03-27