Mental healthThe Mental Health Commission has begun seeking recruitments for new tribunals that will, for the first time, independently assess involuntary admissions for mental illness.
Up to 400 psychiatrists, lawyers and lay people are being sought to sit on panels which will in turn supply tribunals to the State's 57 approved psychiatric centres.
Under the Mental Health Act 2001, the tribunals must review within 21 days the case of any person involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric unit or hospital.
The tribunal will decide whether to affirm or revoke the admission order.
If the order is affirmed, a further independent review will take place within three months, and thereafter six months and subsequently a year.
Announcing the new recruitment scheme (see www.mhcirl.ie), Ms Bríd Clarke, chief executive of the commission, said: "The introduction of the independent review systems represents a core development in promoting and protecting the rights of people admitted involuntarily to psychiatric units.
"The Mental Health Commission looks forward to working in partnership with all the stakeholders in ensuring the implementation of these new provisions."
The independent review system is aimed at bringing Ireland in line with its commitments to mental health under the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
As well as setting out strict time-frames for the review of involuntary admissions, the 2001 Act gives patients a right to independent medical examination by a consultant psychiatrist. Last year, 2,349 people were admitted to approved centres against their wills.
Under its strategic plan, the commission said it hoped to establish the independent review system before the end of this year. However, Ms Clarke was unable to say whether or not this target would be met.
Describing the project as "a large and complex task", she said the body had received enough funding to cover the recruitment process.
It is expected the review scheme will cost at least €14 million a year to run. The commission last year was allocated €5.3 million.
