Health Information Bill 2024: Committee Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2026-03-03
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Aubrey McCarthy (IND), University of Dublin

I move amendment No. 3:
In page 9, after line 34, to insert the following:
“Report on mental health data
7. Within two years of the commencement of this Act, the Minister shall publish a report examining the laws on medical confidentiality regarding access to mental health records. Mental Health data in this context means doctor’s notes, psychologist notes, psychiatrists notes or information disclosed verbally. The report shall be published so regulations may be set to protect people who may be at risk or under threat. The report shall be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.”
I thank the Minister for being here. The amendment that I am proposing is that, very simply:
Within two years of the commencement of this Act, the Minister shall publish a report examining the laws on medical confidentiality regarding access to mental health records. Mental Health data in this context means doctor’s notes, psychologist notes, psychiatrists notes or information disclosed verbally. The report shall be published so regulations may be set to protect people who may be at risk or under threat. The report shall be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.
The reason behind this amendment is that I spoke regarding a particular case last week about a co-parent who was not informed of his partner’s issues even though they were disclosed to a professional. Unfortunately, that co-parent lost his three children. This amendment is asking for a report on evaluating the practices of breaking medical confidentiality when a person’s life, or children’s lives, are under threat. It was inspired by what happened Mr. Andrew McGinley’s family.
Many in this House know the story about his children, Conor, Darragh and Carla. They were tragically taken from him in circumstances that shook the nation and, I believe, could have been prevented. Andrew has shown extraordinary courage. He was in Leinster House last week. He has channelled his grief into advocacy in this nature. He is seeking answers and reforms so that no other family experiences exactly what he has endured.
Medical confidentiality is a complex issue with which the Minister must deal in this Bill. Trying to reform the law in this area is difficult and it would require a separate Bill on its own to account for all the different issues involved. What is being asked for here, however, is a simple report that could help the Oireachtas to pass future legislation that might one day help to save someone’s life. I do not think anyone in the Chamber wants anyone to go through what Andrew McGinley went through. All I am asking for in this amendment is a report that, someday, might play a role in helping to reform the laws in relation to medical confidentiality.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-03-03/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:42+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-03