Historic Moment As Capacity Bill Passes All Stages In Seanad

With Jean Spain Inclusion Ireland and Minister Kathleen Lynch

The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Bill 2013 passed all stages in the Seanad on Tuesday, 15th December following many hours of debate over the last number of weeks.

The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Bill is one of the most important and complex pieces of legislation to pass through the Houses of the Oireachtas in many years. 

With the passing of this legislation in the Seanad we are now one step closer to ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  A goal which is foremost in my work and one in which I am striving to meet day in and day out.

I welcome that at long last the words lunatic and imbecile will be removed from our legislation as a result of the Bill and everyone will be afforded the respect they deserve and are entitled to in our statute books.

It is hoped that the Bill will be signed into law by President Higgins before the end of this year. I will then work to see the speedy implementation of the necessary framework so that this legislation may come into full force as soon as is practicable. 

The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Bill will make a direct impact on the lives of so many individuals across the country.  It has been my pleasure to work with my colleague, Minister Kathleen Lynch on this legislation along with parents,individuals and organisations including Inclusion Ireland.  

When I became a Senator I made a commitment to advocate on behalf of people with a disability and their families.  More then anything else I wanted to see this legislation pass so that individuals who may have decreased capacity at whatever stage of life may be provided for when necessary.  This is a historic and happy moment for everyone through the decades who has worked to see this legislation come to pass.