Dr. Siobh?n N? Bhriain:

We will try to answer the Senator's questions as best we can. On the issue of our conclusion, we wanted to point out that there are already ways in which people can die with dignity and that there are certain entitlements enshrined in law. This is not intended to comment on whether or not legislation is introduced but simply to comment on what exists today, in that people can die in a dignified way. I think Dr. Crowley and Dr. Twomey would be happy with that conclusion.

Then, on the issue of resistance, it is very hard to judge at this point in time how much resistance there would be. We have not done a survey of all of our staff and I believe it would be premature to look at that until we have a sense of what legislation would look like. We are equally mindful that our role as healthcare and social care providers is to engage with the Legislature and to do what is in our remit, which is to enact and support legislation, if and when such happens.

Dr. Twomey and Dr. Crowley may want to comment further on that.