Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-28
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Victor Boyhan (IND), Agricultural Panel

I thank the Minister of State. I hear what she says. She has set out her stall on the record of the House and she is confident. Inspections are difficult. We will talk about that later in terms of access by the Mental Health Commission to facilities and resources. In some cases we are talking about once every three years. I accept it still has the right to go in. I am familiar with that too. I will leave it at that. I hear what the Minister of State says. I ask her to keep an open book on it. The measure should be reviewed from time to time. Even the fact that we are having this debate is improving standards. It is shining a light on this issue. I have spoken to three journalists this week who contacted me about the Bill. That is all to be welcomed because we are now shining a light on issues that were not always vented.
There were not that many people involved in the mental health debate. Even within the Chambers in both Houses I see there is not a huge amount of engagement on it. That is not to pass judgment, as Members have other areas of expertise and, as we speak, they are at committee meetings. There is a need to be vigilant about post-incident reviews. They are needed from time to time. With the best will in the world, they are required. The Minister of State has outlined her position and I accept it.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-01-28/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:33+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-28