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Seanad
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Assisted decision making

Summary

The Deputy Leader thanked Senators and backed the campaign on supported decision-making, stressing the importance of the assisted decision-making legislation and the need for resources and awareness.

I thank all those Members who raised issues on the Order of Business. Senator Ardagh quite rightly raised the Losing Your Marbles campaign. It is really important to raise awareness and we should all support that. More fundamentally, the assisted decision making legislation is extremely important. As we get older, we have more vulnerable people in our lives and it makes one much more aware of the complexities, including the difference between power of attorney and enduring power of attorney. I wish to highlight the fact that they are actually required sometimes so providing one for oneself with regard to someone who one trusts is considered to be a very prudent thing to do legally. I do not think we can highlight those types of issues enough.

The Senator also quite rightly raised the worrying trend of gangland shootings and other crimes in our capital. We should have a debate in this House but we need far more than a debate here. I know the Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Garda Commissioner have committed to visiting Coolock, which is in the area I represent.

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David P.B. Norris Senator David Norris Independent

When he has the time.

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This is really important. I know the previous Taoiseach took on the inner city as a personal issue on which he worked directly. The point about resourcing is well made so I would agree with the Senator on much of that.

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