Every detention order for an adult involuntarily detained in an approved centre is reviewed by a Mental Health Tribunal.
The Tribunal is made up of three people:
- a legal member (a barrister or solicitor who will act as Chairperson)
- a consultant psychiatrist
- a lay member (an expert member of the public)
Tribunal Chairpersons
The MHC maintains a panel of suitable people to act as chairpersons of Mental Health Tribunals. This section How Panels 1 to 4 are appointed describes how this panel is appointed. Chairpersons must be a practising barrister or solicitor with seven or more years’ experience as a practising barrister or solicitor immediately before appointment to the panel. A Tribunal chairperson cannot also be on the panel of legal representatives. There were 91 active Tribunal chairpersons on the panel on 1 May 2024.
For a list of current members of the panel click on the link Panel of Tribunal Chairpersons
Tribunal Consultant Psychiatrists
The MHC maintains a panel of suitable people to act as consultant psychiatrists for mental health tribunals. The section How Panels 1 to 4 are appointed describes how this panel is appointed. To be on the panel, consultants must be on the Division of Psychiatry of the Register of Medical Specialists of the Medical Council of Ireland. There were 103 active tribunal consultant psychiatrists on the panel on 1 January 2024.
For a list of current members of the panel click on the link Panel of Tribunal Consultant Psychiatrists
Tribunal Lay Members
The MHC maintains a panel of suitable people to act as lay members for mental health tribunals. The section How Panels 1 to 4 are appointed describes how this panel is appointed. The lay member is a member of the public with knowledge or experience of mental health services or mental health legislation. To be on the panel, lay members must not be suitable to act as a chairperson or Tribunal consultant psychiatrist and must not be a registered medical practitioner or registered nurse. There were 88 active tribunal lay members on the panel on 1 May 2024.
For a list of current members of the panel click on the link Panel of Tribunal Lay Members
