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Accepting the report will not mean that a law is passed, but will indicate the level of support among politicians.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said his party, Fianna Fáil, will have a free vote on the issue – meaning the party’s whip will not direct its TDs on which way to vote.
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People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny has called on other parties to follow suit.
Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae, who has acted as the chair of the committee, Independent Senator Ronan Mullen, and Fianna Fail TD Robert Troy all said at the time that they fundamentally disagreed with the conclusions.
The three members published a minority report of their own on the issue.
Speaking yesterday in the Dáil, Kenny asked the Tánaiste if Government parties would be granting TDs a free vote on the issue.
Martin said: “Even though I do not agree with such legislation and have very serious reservations about it, nonetheless, it will be a vote of conscience for each individual member of our party.”
“I cannot speak for other parties in the Government,” he added.
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I had 3 of my dogs put to sleep in the last 2 years. As the vet said it was the right and kind thing to do. they where in pain and suffering. I would like to hope later on in life some one would afford me the choice should I be suffering.
@Jimmy Donovan: I so agree with you,but hey look who we’re on the ” comatee” The Belt of the crozier” was as present as if JOHN CHARLES MCQUAID was the chairman.!!!!!
@Jimmy Donovan: pass the legislation and let the people decide how to depart. If you don’t want it, don’t use it… but don’t impose your morals onto others. This is about personal choice, and I agree, if you kept a pet alive under the same circumstances, you’d be jailed for animal cruelty.
Irrespective of anybodys views on this I think it’s vitally important we, as a nation, are brave & mature enough to have an open transparent INFORMATIVE discussion on this. Obviously, this is & will be a highly charged emotional debate with extremely entrenched arguments / beliefs from both sides but I, for 1, think it’s a debate we are ready for& necessary
@Frank Mc Carthy: completely agree though with unchecked misinformation proliferating and people relying on algorithmically driven outrage platforms for their information I fear an emotive subject like this will be almost impossible to discuss effectively.
I should have the right to decide to end my life.
We should be long past the point where a Church – or any other person or group – tells us what we can do with our own bodies.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: totally agree. It shouldn’t be emotive. But the online troll farms are frighteningly good at turning these topics into culture wars that proliferate online and drown out reasonable discussions about this and other important issues.
I am going on 87 and accepted a pacemaker two years ago and living the life I promised my Cardiac surgeon I would.However if I developed an incurable dease or such like I would like that it could be switched off and appropriate measures taken to end my pain,instead of having to go to Switzerland.The good old Irish phrase if your dog was in pain ,you would put him out of his misery.!!!!!!
No matter what your religious whackadoodle beliefs may be.
Let me assume you call yourself a Christian.
Can you answer one simple question: why do you worship evil?
And another: do you really think we should allow those who worship evil to have any control over our lives?
@Clare Power: whilst it is very sad that you had to experience that, pain relief and/or compassion are often not present or don’t work when needed most.
Provided the legislation has a similar provision to the conscience clause in the abortion legislation (allowing doctors, nurses and paramedics an opt-out in having any hand, act, or part of it) I would reluctantly agree. There must also be safeguards to ensure financially interested parties have no influence on decision-making, and also safeguards to ensure consent is informed and genuine.
@Brian D’Arcy: Indeed. The vile cult of Rome has many guises, The Iona Institute, Opus Dei etc. Still promoting their nonsense in our so-called secular society and influencing political policies.
Very big of you to withold the whip on this issue you effing clown. The whip is one of the most disgusting weapons the party leadership forces on its members and in doing so shows the gutless swines who accept it for the cowards they are. It just makes a mockery of so called democracy.
Generally, you know well beforehand if your fate is to die slowly and in agony. I suggest people consider what actions they could take themselves before they become incapacitated.
@ibrahim Sudane: my friend died in agony. There was no help available as hospice had done their best but the drugs had done all they could. What was the point in putting him and his family through this terrible ordeal? He wanted to die but was given no choice.
Whilst in theory I support this especially for specific cases e.g intractable pain, motor neuron disease etc, I worry about it being open to abuse. People feeling coerced into it. Feeling they are a burden on families etc. Also which professionals would be involved in this process? Palliative care doctors/hospice? GPs? This is being discussed in UK as well. Neither of those groups are enthused about getting on board with this. I presume there will be conscientious objectors. Read about what’s happening in Canada in this realm.
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