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

I agree with the other speakers on this issue. I cannot imagine what it is like for children in care or even that they are in care and are alone and isolated. Then they have to go through the mental health services and not really have anybody by their side to offer a warm smile or somebody who can say they have their back and ask what they want.
It is very hard sometimes for adults to communicate, never mind children. In my experience of working with adults, the most difficult thing for them is to communicate what is going on for them, what their feelings and emotions are and what is going on in their minds. It is very hard to do that. I think adults should have advocates as well but we will come to that later on. However, for children in particular, it is really important and vital that they have somebody there.
We have to ask what other advocates a child in care has to speak to their wishes in this case. These children should have access to an independent advocate to support them, to have their voices and feelings heard and to have that smile and that warm hand. How frequently is capacity being assessed in these cases? These are, as I said, exceptionally vulnerable children, particularly those in care who are over 16 and deemed to lack capacity. What protections are in place to ensure their capacity is supported as much as possible? That is something we have to look at it. What is there for them and how can we support them in the best possible way?

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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