Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-22
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Mary Butler (FF), Waterford

I spoke in relation to Tusla sometimes being seen as the parent of the child. It will be set out in the Child Care Act 1991. There has been engagement between the Department of children, the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and my officials behind me. This is why it has taken so long to get us here. As the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health I can categorically say that any treating clinician does not care where the child has come from. The child will be looked after. Of course he or she would be and there is no doubt about that. That is what anybody wants to hear. Whether the child is in the care of the State, is under a court order, or whether the child is in the care of Tusla, a guardian ad litem , or their parents or family, under this Bill the child will get the care that he or she needs, and it aligns exactly with the Child Care Act. I will circulate that two pages because it was quite complicated.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-01-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:32+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-22