Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2025-12-09
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Frances Black (IND), Industrial and Commercial Panel

I still have a concern, bearing in mind that the expert review group of the Mental Health Act examined the issue in depth and concluded that a maximum time frame of 14 days for review hearings is more appropriate and more consistent with the human rights standard. I believe that shortening the time frame could help drive a shift towards earlier review, stronger protections and the development of more robust community-based alternatives, which are really needed here. Overall, there has to be a more holistic approach. In the vast majority of cases, if an involuntary detention is revoked before a mental health review board hearing, the hearing does not proceed. This is deeply concerning, as it means there is no independent review of the original decision to detain the individual. This could leave serious questions about the initial deprivation of liberty. My concern is around the human rights-based approach that we have to focus on. We have to keep that in mind for people who have had really horrific experiences with this.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-12-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:26+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-09