Launch of Public Consultation on the Use of Surveillance

The consultation – which will run until July 16 – is seeking stakeholder and service user views on the use of surveillance in mental health services to guide people working in services and to promote, encourage and foster high standards and good practices in this area.

Commenting on the launch, the Director of Regulation at the Mental Health Commission, Gary Kiernan, said: “Surveillance technologies have advanced considerably in recent years, and this is a complex area. The Mental Health Commission wants to develop a Code of Practice that takes account of these technological advancements while encouraging and promoting good practices and high standards in relation to their use. This consultation is particularly concerned with how Ireland’s mental health services should protect the rights of people who use mental health services, especially their rights to privacy and dignity. I would encourage all interested parties to engage and ensure their voices are heard.”

Surveillance in mental health services involves using technology to observe or monitor service users to inform their care and treatment. Examples of surveillance technologies include CCTV, body worn cameras, infrared cameras, sensors, alarms, and GPS trackers. At present, the most commonly used form of surveillance technology in Ireland is CCTV. 

At present, regulation 25 of the Mental Health Act 2001 (Approved Centres) Regulations 2006 governs the use of CCTV and other monitoring devices in inpatient mental health services. The purpose of this consultation is to identify key areas that the new Code of Practice should address. The Code of Practice will apply initially to inpatient mental health services. Its scope may be widened in the future to include community mental health services and community residences once the MHC’s regulatory remit expands to include these services.

As part of this consultation, we would like to hear from people who use mental health services who have views on how surveillance technologies impact or may impact their care and treatment. We are also interested in hearing from service users’ family members, carers, and friends, people working in mental health services (both inpatient and community mental health services), relevant organisations and the public.

The MHC will carefully assess all survey responses received and use the information gathered, along with other available evidence, to develop the Code of Practice.

For further information and to complete the survey click on the link Public Consultation to inform the development of a Code of Practice on the Use of Surveillance in Mental Health Services | Mental Health Commission. PDF versions of the survey may also be requested from standards@mhcirl.ie and returned via email or by post to: Standards and Quality Assurance, Mental Health Commission, Waterloo Road, Dublin 4 D04 E5W7. 

For queries, or to request a physical copy of the survey, please contact standards@mhcirl.ie or telephone us on 01 636 2400.   

The public consultation will close at 5pm on 16 July 2025.

In addition to the consultation survey, we will be holding focus groups and interviews with interested stakeholders. If you would like to get involved, please email standards@mhcirl.ie by 16 July 2025.