Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach and welcome all of our guests and thank them for their contributions. What strikes me about the freshness of Dr. Yuill's contribution is that he is saying that very often the argument around euthanasia and assisted suicide is that at the root of the objection to it must be some kind of religious itch, whereas his presentation, perhaps would be quite challenging to many people in that he is addressing it through an exclusively social concern.

I was perhaps more struck by the contrast between the perspectives of Dr. Finegan and Dr. McKeown O'Donovan because what Dr. McKeown O'Donovan proposes as a "slippery slope" that we should not worry about is, however, where Dr. Finegan is suggesting that it is something more of a cliff, if I can put it that way. Is it fair to say that Dr. Finegan's ethical argument can be summarised in saying that if healthcare includes self killing; then self killing becomes normalised and ultimately turns healthcare on its head? Dr. McKeown O'Donovan is putting it to us, even in her use of the phrase "slippery slope"and that that thinking plays on people's fears. Is it not the case that the actual slippery slope thinking is very much an analysis that wherever euthanasia or assisted suicide is legalised, that things begin to move in respect of the wider expansion and the increase in numbers? Dr. McKeown O'Donovan said that there is empirical evidence that that does not happen but she did not give us any empirical evidence. Can she give that now, please, because Dr. Finegan seems to be offering empirical evidence even from Oregon that it does happen?