Mental Health Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-16
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Victor Boyhan (IND), Agricultural Panel

I move amendment No. 55:
In page 36, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following:
“Transfer from prison where person appears to fulfil criteria for involuntary admission
19. (1) Where a person detained in a prison appears to a registered medical practitioner, the Governor of the prison, or the Director General of the Irish Prison Service, to fulfil the criteria for involuntary admission under section 12, the matter shall be referred without delay to an authorised officer for assessment.
(2) An authorised officer who receives a referral under subsection (1) shall, as soon as practicable, assess whether to make an application for a recommendation for involuntary admission in accordance with section 14 .
(3) Where a recommendation for involuntary admission is made under section 16 in respect of a person detained in a prison, arrangements shall be made without delay for the transfer of that person to the registered acute mental health centre specified in the recommendation.
(4) A person shall not remain detained in a prison solely by reason of the absence of an available bed in a registered acute mental health centre where the criteria for involuntary admission are fulfilled.
(5) The Minister shall, in consultation with the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, make regulations providing for procedures to give effect to this section, including time limits for assessment and transfer.
(6) The Mental Health Commission shall include in its annual report data relating to referrals and transfers under this section.”.

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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