I wish to highlight a glaring issue regarding the appropriate treatment for individuals with serious mental illness in our criminal justice system. I want to draw attention to a particular situation where an individual is clearly a danger to himself or others, often family members. The person obviously cannot be held in custody once his or her sentence is served but often he or she is diagnosed with a mental illness that is not considered serious enough to move him or her to a mental health facility. Instead, judges are left with no option but to lift detaining orders, even when an individual who needs mental help is considered a potential threat to society.

I have an ongoing case in my constituency. An article in last Saturday's Irish Independent highlighted these issues. This is a serious and ongoing issue that needs immediate attention and legislation needs to be amended to address it.

I thank the Deputy for raising that. It is a significant issue. I would like to engage further with him, the Minister for Health and others to see how that issue can be best addressed.