Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Where does religion fit into the end-of-life care scenario? It is a massively contentious issue or is that no longer the case?

I was struck by Dr. D'Alton's comment on the tyranny of positivity. Will he develop that point? My brother was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and we were informed that we should always be positive about his condition. I hate to say it but even though a person may look unwell, one will tell them that he or she looks fantastic. Thankfully, my brother has emerged from his ordeal, but when he looks at certain photographs, he asks why we never told him he looked so bad. Is it better to tell people that they do not look great or does it make any difference one way or the other?

Will our guests reply to my general question on religion first before responding to that on positivity?