Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

We have ascertained that there are variations around assisted dying in many countries where it has been legislated for. Probably more than 20 countries have legislated for assisted dying, in some format. In my personal opinion a person of advanced age or a person with a disability or mental health issues should not be able to avail of assisted dying. That is my opinion. Other people have opinions that differ from that. That is the framework. The framework I look towards is that of Oregon and New Zealand. New Zealand legislated a number of years ago. In circumstances where something was illegal and then becomes legal, people will avail of it. That can be applied to many things. It is understandable. Where there are variations, frameworks and safeguards, people should be able to avail of that choice. The witnesses will disagree with that. That is Dr. Finegan's and Dr.Yuill's prerogative. Deputy Lahart hit on it very well in regard to those who are in those circumstances. We have a paternalistic view that the doctor knows best or society knows best. However, in certain circumstances where a person is coming to the end of life, try to walk in his or her shoes. They should have a say. It is a fundamental right for any human being to say "I do not want to go through weeks, months or days of my life - and it is my life, not yours or anyone else's." A person should have a say, to refuse medical treatment, food or water. That is their prerogative. Why should they be stopped? If a person says "I do not want to go through a painful end to my life", it is a fundamental human right to have that choice. In order to change that narrative we have to change the law. The model to which I would look is New Zealand. Dr. McKeown O'Donovan’s thesis is good in regard to building a framework in Ireland. What are her opinions of the model in New Zealand? It is restrictive to those who have a terminal illness and six months or less to live. That is sometimes difficult to interpret but at least people now have a choice rather than not having a choice. We are talking about a human right. It is a fundamental human right for a person to have that choice. Hopefully people in Ireland can have that choice in the near future.