Assisted decision-making Bill
Deputy Stanton asks when the assisted decision-making amendment Bill will be published and when the main Act's Parts will commence. The Minister says commencement is planned for June and that officials are finalising points with the Attorney General.
Will the Minister indicate when it is proposed to publish the assisted decision-making (capacity) (amendment) Bill 2021?
I understand that pre-legislative scrutiny has been completed. Is it still the intention of the Minister to commence the Parts of the main Act in June as reported?
Comment on this
Yes, it is the intention to undertake those sections in June. We have had a very useful and lengthy pre-legislative process. The report has come to my Department and my officials are working with the Attorney General's office on some points. A couple of other points have also come in, which we may bring forward as Committee Stage amendments. We see the importance of this, however, and of setting up the Decision Support Service, DSS. We want to move away from the wardship system that is so outdated. The DSS is the mechanism to do that but we need this legislation to pass. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and I will be working to get it through the House as quickly as possible.