Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-20
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Victor Boyhan (IND), Agricultural Panel

I want to come back on the Minister of State's response in respect of amendment No. 56. I referred to the rationale behind the amendment. The major concern of those in the professions to whom I have been speaking is that the Bill does not require that a capacity assessment be completed before involuntary treatment begins. That is either factually correct or it is not. Will the Minister of State confirm the position? Nor does the Bill require regular capacity assessments throughout the period of involuntary treatment. The position of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland is that comprehensive assessments of mental state and insight are conducted by multiple highly trained professionals continuously. It is an ongoing thing.
It is the earlier bit, the assessment before the involuntary treatment begins. The suggestion from the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland is that this be codified in the Bill and clarified in the legislation. That is where I am coming from and that is where amendment No. 56 is coming from. Will the Minister of State clarify her understanding of those issues?

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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