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Poll: Should the government legislate for assisted suicide with safeguards?

Yesterday, Marie Fleming was told in the Supreme Court that her ‘right to die’ appeal was being dismissed – but a judge said that the Oireachtas could legislate to deal with cases such as this.

YESTERDAY, MS SUFFERER Marie Fleming lost her bid to be allowed to end her own life with the help of her partner.

Fleming, 59, had sought to overturn the ban on assisted suicide on the grounds that it was invalid under the Constitution and argued that the ban breached the European Convention on Human Rights.

It is a criminal offence to help someone else to end their life but in court yesterday, Mrs Justice Susan Denham said that there was nothing to stop the Oireachtas from legislating to deal with cases such as Marie Fleming’s, once it was happy that appropriate safeguards could be introduced.

Some may welcome the situation as it would enable people like Fleming to end their life if they choose. However, others could argue that it is morally unacceptable to help others to end their life, and that medical advances may mean that a terminally ill person could see an improvement in their quality of life in the future.

Should the government legislate for assisted suicide, if it is happy that safeguards could be introduced?


Poll Results:

Yes (1499)
No (1011)
I don't know (230)

Read: Supreme Court: Ireland has a right to life, not a right to die>

Read: Supreme Court dismisses Marie Fleming’s ‘right to die’ appeal >

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60 Comments
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    Mute Brian Keelty
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    Mar 14th 2012, 8:34 AM

    Aengus Ó Snodaigh should be jailed for what he did, any other employee in the state who did what he has done would be fired and charged……. When are these people going to remember, or for that matter reminded, that they work for us, are answerable to us and will pay a price for their behavious

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    Mute Dave O'Shea
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    Mar 14th 2012, 8:41 AM

    I am not condoning what he did for one second but if he should get jail in my opinion there are one or two who should be hung, drawn and quartered. Nuff said

    34
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    Mute Sandra Brady
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    Mar 14th 2012, 8:48 AM

    It was excessive and he shouldn’t of taken advantage but the bankers and ff have done worse to this country than what he’s done!! Brown envelopes, trips abroad, excessive claims on houses etc, you can’t said he should be jailed when Bertie and all his cronies are still walking around!!

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    Mute swimtwobirds
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    Mar 14th 2012, 8:50 AM

    Jail for hitting the printer too hard? Are you mad? We’re all turning into soapbox corner ranters around here.

    23
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    Mute Aileen Dowling Ascoli
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    Mar 14th 2012, 8:51 AM

    Any other country he would have resigned, But This is Ireland

    29
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    Mute Brian Keelty
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    Mar 14th 2012, 9:24 AM

    WOW, unbelievable … If you stole 50,000 worth of anything from your employer… you’d be in jail… Aren’t our politician supposed to be held to a higher account….. Some of the responses here remind me of the old saying ” you get the politicians you truly deserve”

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    Mute Brian Keelty
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    Mar 14th 2012, 9:33 AM

    @ Sandra…. Oh ok, so on your basis of belief the Paedophile priest that raped 2 boys shouldn’t be charged as he raped far less boys that the others…. A zero tolerance approach is needed by those that we put in power

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    Mute Fiona O'Sullivan
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    Mar 14th 2012, 9:44 AM

    @ Brian – I think people are in general agreement with you that if you stole €50,000 worth of anything from your employer you’d be in jail, up the steps before your feet could touch the ground. The point I can see people making is that there are far, far, far worse in the Dail than him. They all overclaim on their expenses (apart from that one who doesn’t claim anything, can’t remember his name), they are responsible for the country being in the mess it’s in. Yet none of them are held accountable. And never will in my opinion. That is what needs to change. They need to each be held accountable for their actions and frauds. The only way that change will come in is if the politicians themselves change it. But they’re not going to vote for performance checks on themselves, or the expenses reduced and have to vouch for what they claim. And have their gravy train stopped a few stations earlier? Not a chance.

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    Mute Colin Mc Keown
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    Mar 14th 2012, 10:16 AM

    This is Ireland, everyone knows once you are Elected you can do what you want !!!!!!!!! And if Aengus didnt print those chinese menus, people would have taken to the streets !!!!!!!

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    Mute Garreth OMahony
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    Mar 14th 2012, 10:37 AM

    It wasn’t illegal what he did. If it was he would of been arrested and charged.

    It was stupid but not illegal and he only way for him to get his comeuppance is to be fired at the next election.

    3
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    Mute Colin Mc Keown
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    Mar 14th 2012, 12:05 PM

    Ligal or illegal This is Ireland and we all know once you are Elected you are above the law because time and time again we see this crap and nobody gets in trouble for it ! Expenses, Mistakes or Stealing is expected once you are elected !!!!!!!

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    Mute Sasha Musgrave
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    Mar 14th 2012, 9:21 AM

    My sympathies go to the families of those poor children and adults who were killed in the crash in Switzerland. May they rest in peace.

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    Mute Will Byrne
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    Mar 14th 2012, 8:42 AM

    I thought a cosmonaut was a biscuit , mmmmmmmmmmm cos-mo-naut .

    15
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    Mute Alan Murphy
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    Mar 14th 2012, 9:11 AM

    Why jail him for using too much ink? What about the bankers and the politicians who ruined the country through greed, corruption and downright negligence? Start with them and see if there is any room left in prisons?

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    Mute Brian Keelty
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    Mar 14th 2012, 9:26 AM

    When you don’t address the wrong doings of our politicians, you give others leeway to do as they please…. Bankers, developers etc…… Not taking on Haughey and his cronies has lead us to where we are today

    9
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    Mute Sean Davids
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    Mar 14th 2012, 8:53 AM

    Don’t want to sound like one of the Corrs but I starting to think more and more that no one has been to the moon. I mean USA is going there in 2018 Russia in 2030, you would swear they had to invent the technology to get there.

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    Mute Sean Davids
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    Mar 14th 2012, 8:55 AM

    *I’m

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    Mute Garreth OMahony
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    Mar 14th 2012, 10:40 AM

    They don’t have to invent the technology just the reason to want to go. The last time was ideological east versus west. This time probably more political. It gives whoevere is in power a boost in the polls when they mention space travel.

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    Mute Q8K9dOAu
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    Mar 14th 2012, 10:55 AM

    Maybe if the scabby feckers who make ink cartridges put more actual ink into their product he wouldn’t have needed to use 50,000 of them?

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Mar 14th 2012, 11:37 AM

    Until you put Bertie behind bar’s then calling for any other politician to be jailed is just not going to wash.

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    Mute Ben Calhoun
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    Mar 14th 2012, 2:57 PM

    Why no article on the Revenue defaulters list published yesterday? Civil servants are vilified on this site on a regular basis but when almost €130m is collected in three months (by civil servants) from private sector tax cheats, there’s not a mention of it.

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    Mute Brian Keelty
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    Mar 14th 2012, 3:59 PM

    Ben, they are being paid to collect the taxes in the first place, for having that amount outstanding at any stage several should be fired….. So let congratulate them for collecting, late, what they are paid to collect on time…

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    Mute Ben Calhoun
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    Mar 14th 2012, 4:33 PM

    I’m not talking about arrears of tax. I’m talking about €130m being collected by audit/investigation. There’s a big difference Brian

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    Mute Peter Newman
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    Mar 15th 2012, 12:57 AM

    all politicians should be made to account for all expenditure that is not reasonable

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