John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes, then I will allow Mr. Luley to come back in. Professor Boer, who I will also ask to come back to me at the end, said he is not categorically opposed to assisted dying. He has clearly been through the dark night of this in his own mind. Will he give us examples of the kinds of assisted dying he would not be categorically opposed to? He said that it is his feeling that intentional death is problematic. We are being assaulted with feelings at the moment by those promoting changes to law so I am sceptical about feelings stuff and was surprised to hear Professor Boer mention that. Is it his feeling that the intentional prolonging of life through various really positive developments and innovations is also problematic? I refer to surgical innovations.

This debate is new in Ireland and it is opening people's minds to the topic for the first time but my impression so far from the evidence we have received in writing is that there seems to be resistance and concern from palliative care professionals in Ireland. With regard to the last contribution from Dignitas on palliative care professionals and the role they play in the Dignitas model, I am interested in whether there was resistance. Were such professionals always open to it or was it the case that they came around to it? There are a few questions.