Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-20
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Frances Black (IND), Industrial and Commercial Panel

The most important thing for the people the Minister of State mentioned is compassionate treatment. The Minister of State and I know that. It is the best way to deal with those who are in that scenario. That is still the criterion, and it is about removing the stigma that obtains. International research consistently shows that people with mental health difficulties are no more likely to be violent than members of the general population and that the overwhelming majority of them pose no threat to others.
I need to make sure that is on the record. Serious crimes committed by those with mental health difficulties are exceptionally rare. In almost all cases, they involve a person who has actively sought help. Intense media coverage of such cases creates a distorted perception that they are more common than they are. That is worrying. The distortion fuels calls for greater coercive powers in mental health legislation despite clear evidence that coercion does not prevent these tragedies. It is not okay to say that it is on the basis of mental health that people are at risk. I am concerned about that and note it is triggering for people with mental health difficulties who are watching the proceedings of Seanad this evening and who are tarnished by these stories. Early intervention and the compassionate treatment that is needed for those who are struggling are vital. We will be talking about advocacy in a little while and it is very important in this area. However, relying on risk, particularly the risk of harm to others, as a primary justification for involuntary detention is deeply problematic in principle and practice.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-01-20/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:31+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-20