Ireland's Oireachtas Justice Committee is seeking submissions on the proposed changes to mental capacity law in Ireland. The purpose of the legislation is to reform the law relating to "those who due to illness, accident or intellectual disability, may have limited or reduced capacity to understand and articulate their needs and wishes in a legal context."
The Committee's Chairman, David Stanton TD, urged all groups and individuals to make submissions to the Committee and expressed his hope that "the contribution made by this Committee will help to create a progressive law which ultimately enables Ireland to ratify [the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities]". Although Ireland has signed this convention, it is unable to ratify it because of this jurisdiction's outdated mental capacity legislation. In Ireland, mental capacity is still governed by the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871.
The closing date for submissions is Friday 19 August 2011 at 5pm. Written submissions can be emailed to the Clerk to the Committee at: alan.guidon@oireachtas.ie. The Committee has said that it may invite a number of contributors to public hearings, as well as producing a report and/or recommendations.
Click here to read a review of Ireland's mental health legislation by Amnesty International Ireland, who are calling for it to be updated to bring it in line with international human rights law.