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

This is a very complex issue but I believe we can overcome the complexities of assisted dying and legislate for it. I hope the committee agrees on this. Public opinion is clearly on the side of legislating for assisted dying, not only in Ireland but also in Britain and other countries. We have to be cognisant of this. Not all people live well and not all people die well. In the latter circumstances, people should have a choice as to how they die. For me, this is a fundamental human right.

The New Zealand legislation contains a number of stipulations on those who cannot avail of assisted dying. These grounds are advanced age, disability and mental health. They are important safeguards, or whatever we want to call them. There was a debate in New Zealand on assisted dying. People had concerns. It was put to a popular referendum in New Zealand and a clear majority supported assisted dying.

As a committee, we have many choices. There are many avenues we need to go into and go down. There are people who would certainly agree with assisted dying in principle but they have concerns about A, B and C. When I speak to these people, I try to address these issues. Once we address the issues, the majority of people are comfortable. It gives them a sense of joy in some ways that they have a choice and a say in how they die.

That is an important narrative with this issue. It is a hard issue to talk about, regardless of what side you are on. We are here because it is an important issue. It is important not to conflate issues that have nothing to do with this issue. I am not saying this is happening now, but others have conflated this issue with other issues. To me, that is the most dangerous part. It is not assisted dying when it is legislated for. The dangerous part is when people start conflating the issues with all sorts of stuff, in particular around suicide and in relation to other stuff. It is extremely unhelpful. I think a lot of people see through that. We have seen that throughout other debates in Ireland, in particular around a woman's right to choose and marriage equality. Some of the stuff is regurgitated to conjure fear in those who may agree in principle but have concerns. I would never be flippant about certain levels of concern. I am saying, as a person who fully supports assisted dying, that it is not a carte blancheat all. This is about certain circumstances where somebody, in specific circumstances, should have a choice. It is as simple as that. Some people do not agree with that. That is fine. Some people will never agree with it, but it is not compulsory. Show me where assisted dying is compulsory. It is not. It is a voluntary decision.