Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the meeting is to begin the joint committee's consideration of the very important subject of the right to die with dignity. On behalf of the committee, I welcome from Right to Die Ireland Mr. Tom Curran and Mr. Michael Nugent and from the Irish Association for Palliative Care Dr. Regina McQuillan, consultant physician in palliative medicine. I thank all of them for their attendance and furnishing members with their respective contributions. Both groups will be invited to make an opening statement which will be followed by a question and answer session with members.

Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. If, however, they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members of the committee should be aware that under the salient rulings of the Chair, they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Curran to make his opening statement.