Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide has welcomed the publication of the Mental Health Commission’s 2024 report on the use of restrictive practices in approved mental health centres, noting the significant reductions in physical and mechanical restraint and in the use of seclusion.
Deputy Quaide, who is the party’s spokesperson on mental health, said:
“The report highlights a significant decline in the use of some forms of restrictive practices in mental health settings. This is an important development for service users and brings Ireland closer to fulfilling our obligations under international statutes towards the elimination of coercive practices.
“However, the report’s scope leaves significant gaps that must now be addressed. It is important to note that it does not examine the use of chemical restraint – the administration of powerful medication to temporarily sedate or incapacitate a person. Without proper oversight in this area, there is a real risk that sedation could be used as a substitute for the forms of restraint that are now in decline. We must ensure that progress in one area is not undone in another.
“I was deeply troubled by Minister Butler’s removal of a comprehensive section on chemical restraint proposed in the Drafts Heads of Bill from the Mental Health Bill 2024. I called for its re-insertion and am relieved to see this has occurred, in part, at the Committee Stage in the Seanad.
“As a result, the Mental Health Commission will be empowered to regulate the use of chemical restraint in mental health settings. However, the government’s current definition of this practice exposes service users to ongoing risk, and this needs to be addressed before the legislation is finalised.
“It is also vital that there is a comprehensive national review of all sedative prescribing practices across mental health settings. Such a review should examine the risks of over-medication and chemical restraint and lead to the creation of clear, enforceable guidelines. This is essential if the government is serious about developing a genuinely humane, recovery-focused mental health service.”
December 12, 2025