Professor William Binchy:

I understood Deputy Costello to have said that or that it was minimal and that the dominant concern was that people died, rather than that they had died by taking their own life. In cases in which people die by taking their own lives, the impact is unquestionably focused on that fact. That is my personal experience, I am sad to say. I am sure it is the experience of most people.

The second aspect which I think the Deputy mentioned was that surely it is a question of autonomy and respect for life and how should we respect life that has no dignity. I again respectfully disagree with the Deputy because I think everyone has dignity regardless of their physical or mental circumstances or age. In circumstances in which they need a huge amount of care and support from others, their dignity is absolutely preserved in that situation.

Their inherent dignity and worth is there. I accept they may have a sense of loss of dignity. I would respectfully say that it is members' role as legislators to be concerned for the social good, the common good and the good of everyone. They should focus on the good of everyone in these circumstances, as I am sure they do. I am not suggesting this personally. Legislators should support the approach that maximises protection for all. The "slippery slope" is an expression I do not like. It is a mean kind of expression. I would prefer members to adopt the notion of going through a door and closing it firmly behind them. If they close the door firmly behind the proposition that taking innocent human life by anybody, including the person himself or herself, is something society should not tolerate, then in this new room everything is possible.