Government must not be allowed to strip Mental Health Bill of human rights safeguards

Concerns and Recommendations for the Report Stage of the Mental Health Bill 2024 - Mental Health Reform

The Mental Health Bill has recently passed Committee Stage and is due to progress to Report Stage in the coming weeks. It represents a significant step toward modernising Ireland’s mental health laws in line with human rights and international best practice. Mental Health Reform (MHR) welcomes the amendment to review the Act every five years instead of ten—a positive move toward more responsive legislation. However, we have raised concerns about…

Government must not be allowed to strip Mental Health Bill of human rights safeguards

Last-minute government amendments have resulted in a Mental Health Bill that now lacks crucial human rights safeguards in favour of a retrograde model of service provision for people with acute mental health difficulties, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on mental health and disability, said: “Some government amendments, introduced on deadline day for submissions, have significantly alt…