Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach and Senator Rónán Mullen for allowing me to change speaking slots. I thank each and every contributor this evening for bringing their respective perspectives to the debate. This is a challenging task. We have the responsibility of drawing up a report on what this country should do. I do not believe it is anyone's intention but the conflicting statements we received this evening highlight just how challenging this is. People come to this story with their own opinion. Nobody can have opinions on facts. Facts are facts. Figures and figures. Therefore, I ask contributors whether the number of people assessing medically-assisted end-of-life treatment increased year on year since it was introduced. That is not a matter of opinion. That is a matter of fact. Will contributors come back on that?

Dr. Herx said the head of the end-of-life commission in Quebec, Dr. Michel Bureau, recently stated that "we are no longer dealing with an exceptional treatment but a treatment that is very frequent" and that the commission has seen a slight increase in the number of cases that violate the legislation. One wonders whether that statement is based on facts and on the numbers of people availing of this treatment year on year. Will Professor Downie respond to that? Does she believe the head of the end-of-life commission in Quebec when he accepts that? Does Dr. Downie take that as a factual position? When we hear the head of the end-of-life commission saying that he sees a slight increase in the number of cases that violate the legislation, would any of the speakers this evening be able to indicate whether there has been any punishment where the regime has been violated?