Mental Health Bill 2024: From the Seanad
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-29
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Mary Butler (FF), Waterford

These amendments relate to the entire process of involuntary admission of a child in Part 4 of the Bill. They include changes to criteria for involuntary admission to make the protections stronger for children. It includes minor changes to the involuntary admission process, which is done by way of application by the HSE to the District Court. This grouping also includes a number of additional safeguards for children, including protections in relation to the use of Garda powers to take a child into custody, as well as additional safeguards around the mandatory provision of information to children and their parents at the point of admission. Finally, this grouping includes amendments to provisions in relation to consent to treatment for a child.
One thing Deputies will remember us discussing last year was electroconvulsive therapy, ECT, for children. One amendment I would like to highlight is amendment No. 330, which provides for the prohibition of ECT for children. According to information I have received from the HSE and the Mental Health Commission, ECT has not been administered to a child in Ireland in over 15 years and, in fact, the expertise and equipment to administer ECT to children is not present in the State. At the same time, I had given a commitment that I was going to come back with this amendment in place. It is really important that we spell it out loud and clear, and I am happy to do that.
Other amendments in this grouping enhance safeguards for children accessing treatment under the legislation, such as including protections where a child is taken into Garda custody and the right of children and their parents or guardians to receive information following a child's admission to an inpatient mental health service. That is something we discussed at length here as well.
The amendments in this grouping enhance the protections for children in relation to the involuntary admission process. These amendments have been informed by extensive consultation carried out by officials in my Department with the Departments of children and justice, the HSE, the Mental Health Commission and other important stakeholders.

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Retrieved: 2026-09-21T01:01:08+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-29