Statement: Bacik Condemns Use of Word Insanity in Criminal Legislation

BACIK CONDEMNS USE OF WORD ‘INSANITY' IN CRIMINAL LEGISLATION

Senator Ivana Bacik
Labour Party Seanad Spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Law Reform
5th May 2010

Speaking today in the Seanad during the Report stage debate on the Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2010, Senator Ivana Bacik condemned the use of the word ‘insanity' in that bill, saying:

“The use of the word ‘insanity' to describe persons who have a mental disability and are defendants in the criminal justice system is an eighteenth century anachronism. It is outdated and stigmatising. There should no longer be any place for this word in our modern legislation – it should be replaced with a more contemporary term like ‘mental disorder'. This change would be supported by all those working in psychiatry and mental health.”

In his response to Senator Bacik, Minister John Moloney accepted her point about the outdated and stigmatising language of ‘insanity', but said that the change of language would be a focus for the general review of mental health law due later this year.

Senator Bacik called a vote on her amendment to the bill seeking to delete the word ‘insanity' – which was supported by all the Opposition Senators present, but defeated by 28 votes to 23.


ENDS