Mental Health Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-16
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Joe Conway (IND), Cultural and Educational Panel

As the seconder of Senator Boyhan's amendment, I wish to voice my absolute support for this.
As somebody who spent a lifetime working with children in education, I often wonder why we cavil about these declarations we sign up to. The Minister and Government should be proud to include this amendment because we do not have the facility or advantage of crystal balls here in front of us. There is one thing you can say about knitting in this declaration, which goes back to 1959 and is based on a 1924 declaration, it is not new stuff. However, we can give a great strength and latitude to the declaration if we include it, as Senator Stephenson said, in our national legislation going forward. It would be progressive and would strengthen the whole ethos of the Bill.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-16