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

There was extensive debate on the topic of advocacy on Committee Stage over a number of amendments and hours. Following those debates, as well as an amendment tabled by Senator Black, I introduced several amendments on Report Stage in the Seanad in relation to information on advocacy supports.
These amendments will ensure that any person admitted under the new Act will be given information in relation to any available advocacy supports. This will apply to both children and adults, ensuring that information on advocacy supports will be available regardless of a person’s age. Importantly, this information will be given to people whether they have been involuntarily admitted or are seeking treatment on a voluntary basis. Just because a person has chosen to admit themselves voluntarily, it does not mean that they will not require some support.
These amendments build on the amendment put forward by Senator Black on Committee Stage by extending access to information on advocacy supports to all people admitted to inpatient mental health settings. Advocacy is not provided for in any primary legislation, including older person and disability services. However, advocacy services are now available in those services. Officials in my Department will shortly begin preparations to draft all the necessary regulations to underpin operation of the new Act. I have asked officials to examine how advocacy can be incorporated into these regulations.
As I said earlier, I have met with the national advocacy service. It informed me that it already provides support to people with disabilities who use mental health services, most commonly in relation to housing, social protection and other entitlements. I rolled out patient advocacy supports across all nursing homes and have every intention, if I am still in this role, to continue doing that.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-29/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-21T01:01:08+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-29