We have made a submission in response to the 2021 public consultation on the review of the Mental Health Act 2001.
This submission will be considered by the Department of Health in preparing a Bill to revise the Mental Health Act. Our submission draws on the Report of the Expert Group on the Review of the Mental Health Act (2015).
You can read our submission in full here.
Saturday 6 April 2019, 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m., University College Cork
Chair of Session 1: Mr Richard Hammond
10.00 a.m.
Ms Joan Doran, Solicitor, Chair, Irish Mental Health Lawyers Association:
Introductory Remarks
10.10 a.m.
Mr Richard Hammond, President, Southern Law Association, and Chairperson, Mental Health and Capacity Task Force of the Law Society of Ireland:
Opening Address
10.20a.m.
Dr Miriam Kennedy, Consultant Psychiatrist (General Adult and Old Age), Highfield Healthcare, Swords Rd., Dublin. Senior Lecturer (RCSI and TCD, Honorary):
‘Recovery is Real’
10.45 a.m.
Ms Barbara Brennan, See Change Co-Ordinator and Mental Health Consultant:
‘A Personal Journey’
11.00 a.m.
Mr Paul Brady, Barrister:
‘Wardship and Capacity’
11.30 a.m.
Coffee / Tea Break
Chair of Session 2: Ms Áine Flynn
12.00 p.m.
Ms Áine Flynn, Director of the Decision Support Service, Mental Health Commission:
Opening Address
12.10 p.m.
Ms Áine Hynes, Partner, St. John Solicitors, Dublin: ‘Developments in caselaw under the Mental Health Act, to include consideration of Detention Orders under the Wardship Jurisdiction’
12.35 p.m.
Judge Anselm Eldergill, Court of Protection, England:
‘Current Mental Capacity and Mental Health Law issues in England & Wales’
1.30 p.m.
Questions and Panel Discussion
2.00 p.m.
Conference Close
Conference Convenors:
Dr Darius Whelan, School of Law, UCC and Ms Joan Doran, Solicitor, Chair, Irish Mental Health Lawyers Association
Centre for Criminal Justice & Human Rights, School of Law, University College Cork and
Irish Mental Health Lawyers Association
Annual Conference 2018
Mental Health Law and Capacity Law
Saturday 12 May 2018
10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, University College Cork
Conference programme will be published shortly, once finalised.
Speakers will include:
Conference Convenors: Dr Darius Whelan, School of Law, UCC and Ms Joan Doran, Solicitor, Chair, Irish Mental Health Lawyers Association
- Conference Fee - €120
- NGOs €50
- Academics - €50
- Devilling barristers and trainee solicitors - €50
- Students – Free
Further Information from Ms Deirdre Kelleher, School of Law, UCC, phone (021) 490 3642, email lawevents@ucc.ie.
Four CPD Hours – Solicitors and Barristers
College of Psychiatrists of Ireland - 3.5 external CPD Credits.
L-R: Keith Walsh, Mark Felton, Darius Whelan, Joan Doran, Áine Hynes
Irish Mental Health Lawyers Association officers recently held a meeting with Helen McEntee, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, to discuss potential reforms of mental health law. the meeting took place in Leinster House on 19 October 2016.
The Report of the Expert Group on the Review of the Mental Health Act 2001 was published on 5 March 2015. The press release is here. The full report is available here.
Further information:
Irish Times: Mental health review will change patient interaction with services, says Lynch
Irish Examiner: Mental health legislation is moving on from paternalism
Blog Post: Reforming the Mental Health Act 2001