Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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We are dealing with item 4 on our clár for today, the second of our series of discussions on the right to die with dignity. The purpose of today's meeting is to conclude our hearings on the subject of the right to die with dignity. I welcome Professor Desmond O'Neill, who is a professor in medical gerontology at Trinity College Dublin. On behalf of the committee I thank him for his attendance to discuss this very important issue. The format of the meeting is that Professor O'Neill will be invited to make an opening statement and that will be followed by a questions and answers session. For his information, unfortunately, we have received a couple of apologies. Our number is not at its normal level this morning and we regret that.

At the outset I must remind Professor O'Neill of the matter of privilege. Please note that you are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence you are to give to the committee. However, if you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise or make charges against any person or persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members of the committee should be aware that under the salient rulings of the Chair, they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I invite Professor O'Neill to make his opening statement.