Mary Butler TD is Government Chief Whip and Minister for State with responsibility for Mental Health.
A Mental Health Bill to comprehensively overhaul and update mental health legislation was published in July 2024 and passed Second Stage in September 2024. Minister Butler ensured the Bill’s restoration to the Dáil order paper and she says it will be progressed through the legislative process over the spring and summer sessions.
“The Mental Health Bill is a priority to progress over the coming months. This legislation will modernise our mental health legislation. It is a progressive, person-centred Bill that promotes the right of autonomy for people with severe and enduring mental health difficulties,” she said.
“Following the publication of the Bill in July 2024, and its passage at second stage in September 2024, the Department of Health has had constructive engagement with a wide array of stakeholders including the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, the Mental Health Commission, the Health Service Executive, and other representative bodies. I’m confident in the coming months we will progress significant legislation that will serve those who need to avail of mental health services.”
Jennifer Murnane O’Connor TD is Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy. In that role she will assess the outcomes of the national drugs strategy Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025 and lead on the development of a successor strategy informed by the Government’s response to the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use.
Minister Murnane O’Connor will also have responsibility for tobacco control law and strategies to improve access to healthcare services and address inequalities for people who are homeless, Travellers, Roma and refugees.
She said, “I have always been very supportive of measures to reduce smoking rates and look forward to working with my colleagues in the Department of Health on plans to help more people to quit smoking, discourage the initiation of smoking and improve overall public health.
“I will also prioritise policy on risk factors and issues such as obesity, tobacco and alcohol, physical activity, mental wellbeing and sexual health and period dignity by empowering people and communities to engage in improving health and wellbeing and shift the emphasis to prevention.
“As Minister of State, I will have responsibility for specific powers under the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act 1998. These include the authority to amend specific Schedules of the Act, appoint members of the Food Safety Consultative Council and assign additional functions to the Authority. Additionally, I will be responsible for appointing the Authority’s Scientific Committee and introducing regulations related to food sampling and analysis to ensure the highest standards of food safety.”
Kieran O’Donnell TD is Minister with special responsibility for Older People. The programme for Government commits to design a statutory homecare scheme, with the first element being related to the licensing and registration of homecare providers. Minister O’Donnell will be progressing The Health (Amendment) (Licencing of Professional Home Support Providers) Bill 2024.
He will be working on advancing Nursing home and Dementia services, and he looks forward to receiving the reports from the Commission on Care for Older People and progressing a National Action Plan as committed to in the
Minister O’Donnell said, “The continued focus must be to promote care in the community so that people can continue to live with confidence, security and dignity in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Where living at home is no longer the most appropriate choice for the older person, the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable.“
