Madam, - Over 100 people are being detained illegally in Europe because the CIA suspects that they are terrorists, according to recent reports.
EU officials are said to be extremely concerned because the detentions breach European laws - and angry because people are detained there rather than in the US because US laws would find it illegal too.
More or less the same laws are breached every month in Ireland by the involuntary detention of over 200 Irish citizens who are suspected of being mentally ill.
Each is deprived of liberty without appeal, legal or medical representation, despite entitlements under Irish and EU law - and will continue to be detained without appeal, until Irish consultants participate in the work of the mental health tribunals.
There's little doubt that consultants are absolutely correct to campaign for better mental health services - the suicide rate, for example, has risen in parallel with the lessening availability of funds for mental health as compared with the rest of the health sector.
But why deny ordinary people's basic rights to that end?
Is a suspected depressive more dangerous than a suspected terrorist?
While doctors differ, Ireland's rate of detaining ordinary people at a time of profound personal crisis is apparently much higher than that of the CIA, if much less newsworthy.
It is hard to see how mental health services will win greater funding and resources so long as its gatekeepers postpone the recognition of national and international laws. - Yours, etc,
MEDB RUANE, Royal Terrace West, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin.