Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-28
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Frances Black (IND), Industrial and Commercial Panel

It is wonderful that there are authorised officers now. It is really powerful but unfortunately it allows for gardaí to still bring people to centres. I imagine that it can be very traumatic. If I have an adult child who is having an episode and I ring the Garda and a garda comes, he may not understand what is going on and could react in a retraumatising way. There has to be some form of safety for that individual. I question whether this issue should be reviewed and I think there should be some kind of training for gardaí. It is important for the individual having an episode and for the family as well. It is important that this is considered. I am worried that this amendment still allows for gardaí to come and take that person away.

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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