Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2025-12-09
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Victor Boyhan (IND), Agricultural Panel

That is the Minister of State's view. I am asking her to comment now. This is when we have them. We vote on amendments separately. I will not anticipate what she might say later on. She can say it all again five times if she wants to. I respect that. She is the Minister of State. I am putting it to her on the record of the House that she is either unwilling or unable, or does not know what the situation is. I have asked her two simple questions. I will ask them again so there is no ambiguity about the questioning and no doubt what I am asking. Ireland is signatory to two conventions. On the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I referred to Article 7 but I will now refer to the entire convention. Ireland is also a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. We are signatories to these. We are obliged. Previous governments have bought into them. It is established practice. I am asking if the Minister of State will give me the assurances regarding this whole group of amendments that we are fully compliant. She either can or she cannot. The Minister of State is suggesting that she cannot do it now in the section allotted under our Standing Orders and by the secretariat, and agreed by whoever agrees them. She is saying she is not in a position to comment on the question I have asked her. She is saying she is happy to discuss it later, but I am asking her to discuss it now. I am asking her to comment on these ones now, not the broader bit. She can do what she likes, quite frankly, in terms of her scope of debate but she cannot do what she likes in terms of legislation. We accept, amend or reject. There is a vote. She brings a proposal so let us not be nodding our heads here unless-----

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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