Assisted decision-making Act
Deputy Buckley asks when the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act will be commenced and notes related Bills and disability ratification. The Tánaiste says recruitment has begun and the Act will proceed once the service is in place.
When will the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act be commenced? We are aware there are a number of Bills on the Order Paper which refer to the Act. One was passed in the Dáil and is now with the Seanad. The ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is also outstanding and needs a bit of attention and action.
Comment on this
The recruitment has begun for setting up the assisted decision-making service. I am sure as soon as it is completed it will happen. I understand satisfactory progress has been made on it by the Department of Health and as soon as the appropriate people are in place I expect the Act will come into play.
I have already dealt with the issue of the disability legislation. Once the outstanding issues are finalised and dealt with by the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Health it can be fully signed and ratified by us.