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

They are in a room on their own but it is in an approved centre in a department of psychiatry. I just want to clarify this in case anyone is worried. Although we are changing the age limit of when a young person can make a decision in relation to their own consent, that will not apply to the inpatient beds for 16- and 17-year-olds. That will not be changed over to adults so that they would be classed as an adult. You are entitled to consent to your own treatment at 16 and 17 but in relation to the inpatients, it will still be the same age groups, up to 18. I want to be clear on that.

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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