Mental Health Bill 2024: Committee Stage (Resumed)
Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-29
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Victor Boyhan (IND), Agricultural Panel

Therefore, is it not an awful pity we cannot find some creative, imaginative way through the parliamentary process and legislation to put in what I put forward, which the Minister of State supports? I believe it is a good idea and I have spoken to others who believe it is a good idea. Is it not an awful shame that here we are, making primary legislation in the Seanad, the Upper House, and somehow we are currently precluded from making that proposal? That shows a weakness and anomaly in the parliamentary process.
I do not know if this is the case, but the Minister of State might outline whether it is open to her to consider that such that when she comes back on Report Stage, there would be some way of putting this in? She is in agreement and it makes sense. The commission refers in its report to inspections happening every year, although the report is from 2024, which is its most recently published report. Inspections every year would be fantastic, but I recognise that can present difficulty given the number of approved centres.
Can I leave it with the Minister of State to see if there is any way that we can do this in primary legislation? It is only twice in every three-year registration period. It is only twice - I do not think it is too much to ask. It would be great if we could put it in primary legislation or some other form of regulation. It would give comfort to people. The Minister of State agrees with it. I think it is a pity we are not able to put that into legislation when the Minister of State agrees, the commission is supportive and, I suggest, everyone in the House is supportive of the concept. I thank the Minister of State for her engagement.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-01-29/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:34+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-29