I recognise the improvements that have been made to this Bill since we last debated it in this House, both by our colleagues in the Seanad and through the moves the Minister of State has made. It is important to recognise when positive steps are taken. While we may not agree on everything politically, it does not mean that we ignore where we do agree on some things that have changed. I will speak to amendments Nos. 276 to 278, inclusive, 288 to 290, inclusive, and 330. I am very concerned about children in Garda st…

I wish to start with amendments Nos. 57, 155 and 172, particularly in relation to the materiality benefit threshold. This is a very positive improvement. There has to be real, demonstrable justification for any state to compel admission or treatment, and there has to be that demonstrable prospect of therapeutic aim. Involuntary powers should only be used where strictly necessary and where meaningful clinical benefit is likely. However, I have some issues with wording only being on a page. The real test of this is g…

On a point of clarification, what age can the nominated person be? I understand that the Minister of State said 16.

It is important that pharmacological restraint is mentioned here because if the State or any service intervenes in a way that limits a person's liberty, movement or bodily autonomy, the safeguards have to be exact. In addition, it has to be a genuine last resort, clinically justified, proportionate, time limited and independently scrutinised. I would like to see mandatory recording, clear notification procedures, oversight by the Mental Health Commission, and regular publication of anonymised data. People in crisis…

I just want to be very clear on this. What that section states is, "it would be in the best interests of the child for any persons specified in subsection (1)(a) or (2)(a) not to be provided with information on the application of restrictive practices".

On admittance.

Informing people of available advocacy services is a positive but it is not the same as giving them access. One of the concerns I have is if a person is detained and is frightened or overwhelmed, they may not be in a position to navigate the system alone or to use the information that is given to them. For a person in that position, the information is useless unless there is somebody there with them to help them navigate the system. There needs to be independent advocacy. It should be a practical right, not a theor…

I welcome the clarity with regard to the Child Care Act in particular. Our legislation needs to align. One part cannot be contradictory to another. I have to put the question to the Minister of State in relation to GAL appointments, agency notification and court procedures. We need to see these structures being properly resourced in order that they are able to meet the demand that is there. I know that is not directly related to the legislation we are speaking about but an under-resourced system will have an impact…

In regard to the transition from one framework to another, I will go back to this legislation being people orientated and rights orientated. I have a concern, not so much about the 28 days but about the reassessment of any individual who is there. Given the pressures that exist in the mental health services, as they stand today, I ask the Minister of State to keep a very close eye on what is going on there and to engage with both the staff and professionals in the services but also those who speak on behalf of pati…

I would like to reiterate what I said earlier about that 28-day transition period. It is really crucial that nobody loses a pathway during that period as one becomes aligned with the other, particularly the new protections that will come in under the new Mental Health Act.

I acknowledge the very hard work that has gone into producing what is a Bill of phenomenal size over the past number of years. I also acknowledge the engagement of all the stakeholders with my office and, previously, with Deputy Ward's office. That has not gone unnoticed and is very welcome. I wish to raise one final issue with the Minister of State. I raise it from a political perspective and almost as a personal plea at this point. I ask the Minister of State to look at the possibility of having an interim review…

I thank the Deputy.

The Deputy's time is up.

I thank the Deputy.

The Deputy's time is up.

Taoiseach, we are well over time.

Thank you, Taoiseach. The time is up.

Will the Taoiseach respond to Deputy Lawless's question?

Deputy, time is up.

Now we have the Labour Party slot. Deputy Mark Wall has ten minutes.