Mental Health Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-16
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Mary Butler (FF), Waterford

I actually cannot believe what the Senator has stood up and just said. I actually think it is appalling. I ask the Senator to please give me a chance to respond now because he has put out a lot of commentary there that is hanging in the air. I think it is completely inappropriate and it is factually incorrect. That is the first thing. Even though the Senator has spent a lot of time here and a lot of time on the Bill what he did not say was that this Bill will ensure that ECT, electroconvulsive treatment, is only given with the consent of the person. That is what is happening in the new Bill. To be clear, that is what is happening.
At the moment, under the 2001 Act, 75% of ECT is to voluntary patients.
It is really important when we throw statements out that we know the facts behind them. I am appalled at what the Senator has just said. One of the things I was very keen to do - which I did do in the Dáil and I used the Seanad to put it into place - was to bring in a new section where electroconvulsive treatment, ECT, would not be provided to any person under 18 years of age. I also found out that is has not been provided in Ireland for the past ten years for anyone under 18 years of age and there is no CAMHS consultant in Ireland qualified to carry it out or who will carry it out. Do not let the facts get in the way of a good soundbite. What the Senator said is very triggering for some people who see that for their care as a person who has an enduring mental health condition, ECT can be effective. I have been told it can be effective in the care of some people. I am not clinician and nor is the Senator. To make statements like that will be triggering for many people who have to go through ECT care because it means they can manage their illness very well. I hope the Senator will temper his remarks.

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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