Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I apologise for joining the meeting from my office, which I hope is all right. I thank our guests for their presentations, which somewhat brought into stark focus how far we, as a State, have to go on disability rights and supports. We are a million miles from where we need to be. This committee must think about the living part as well as the dying part.

Our guests might be able to help me with the following. Many of the disability organisations and people with disabilities to whom I have spoken have talked about how society has put perceptions on them. Those are limiting perceptions as to what people with disabilities can and cannot do. Is there a possibility within this conversation or elsewhere to acknowledge that there are disabled people who, for whatever reason and not necessarily related to their disability, would wish to consider this option or would wish to be able to engage on the option and discuss the topic but because of other's perceptions of what is best for them and the disabling barriers that result from societal perception of disabled people, such people would be denied an opportunity to participate in the discussion at this stage in respect of the policy formation piece? Should the option of assisted dying come into legislation at some point, might there be some disabled people who are excluded not as a result of their having a disability but as a result of society's perception of what would be best for them? If that is the case, such people may never be able to access this end-of-life option even if they want to. I hope what I am asking is clear. The perceptions of disabled people may mean that disabled people are unable to avail of the option. Do our guests anticipate a time when we can challenge that?