In the last term, I was a member of the mental health subcommittee and we dealt with the progress of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022. In fairness, the committee did its due diligence, and we saw some of the issues we are seeing here today in relation to the timelines that were put in place. As we speak today, there are over 1,000 cases outstanding. That means 1,000 people who are currently wards of courts are facing a cliff edge. To me, this is just bad planning by the Government. It also shows a lack of foresight by allowing this cliff edge to develop. Can the Minister of State tell me how many of these over 1,000 people are minors? What plans are in place to tackle the root causes that have led to the court backlog? This Bill does nothing to address the root causes of delays, which are significant. We need to use this time to look at what can be done. We need to properly resource the Legal Aid Board. I was at a justice committee meeting last week and we heard how under pressure the Legal Aid Board is at the moment and how much pressure it is going to be under in the future given other things it is dealing with that it has not dealt with before, for example immigration cases. We also need to see the full resources in place for the National Advocacy Service and the Decision Support Service. A part of this Bill that I have a personal opinion on, because it affects me on a personal basis, is the ability to make advance healthcare directives. The Minister of State will be aware that I have multiple sclerosis. I have been threatening for a number of years to make an advanced healthcare directive. At the moment, as usual, I feel invincible but I do not know whether that is going to be the same tomorrow or next year and this is something I need to look at myself on a personal basis to make sure the care I receive in the future is the care I want to receive. That is great for me, but a two-tier system may be developing. Perhaps the Minister of State can answer some of the questions because people who have mental health difficulties may not have the same ability to make that advance healthcare directive. For example, a person who has been involuntarily detained may have the ability to make an advance healthcare directive. I have met a number of people over the years who have been involuntarily detained in a mental health institution. They may have been treated with electroconvulsive therapy, ECT, for example, and may not have liked the experience. They may then get themselves to a place where they are okay and are able to make an advance healthcare directive. However, I am unsure whether that advance healthcare directive they can make for their future healthcare would still be in place because at one time there was a lacuna between the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and the Mental Health Bill. Has that lacuna been resolved? One thing I hate to see is somebody beside me not having the same rights as I have just because they have a mental health issue and I have a physical health issue. If that could be addressed, it would be much appreciated.

Sentiment score: 0.06