Minister’s legal capacity initiative welcomed

We welcome the Oireachtas Justice Committee initiative under Deputy David Stanton to hear from interested parties on legal capacity prior to publication of this important bill.

This experience was engaging, energising and sets an excellent precedent for other committees to follow. Their report on the bill was published yesterday; we hope that the committee’s recommendations will be taken on board by Ministers Shatter and Lynch.

We call on this Government to introduce legislation in line with Essential Principles: Irish Legal Capacity Law; a document drawn up by NGOs in consultation with Irish experts. Along with the Justice Committee report, these principles should guide and inform this important new law.