Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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As someone who comes to this committee undecided on how I will go at the end of it, I think it is important that we probe and ask questions. Sometimes it may seem basic to people with much wider experience in this area than we do. However, it is important that we probe and are free to ask whatever questions we feel are right. I have a question on palliative care. Professor Huxtable referred to the right of access to palliative care enshrined in law. Can he give any example of where that is currently in place? Rightly or wrongly, and I would say wrongly, the provision of palliative care can vary from one community healthcare organisation, CHO, or HSE region to another. Sometimes I feel that a person of a lower socioeconomic background with fewer available resources will be forced to take a decision that somebody with greater resources may not be forced to take.

Dr. Mills raised the issue that to date there have been no convictions in Ireland for assisting somebody with assisted dying. There is only one case we are aware of. Does he suspect that is an adequate reflection of what has happened over the past 30 years or does he suspect this practice may be happening under the radar?

My final question is on the advanced directive. I knew a gentleman who had signed up to travel to Switzerland. He made a conscious decision that when the time came, he was going to avail of this medical procedure and had signed up for it. However, when the time came, he changed his mind and did not want to. He was in the fortunate position to have the mental capacity to change his mind and exercise that change of mind. My concern is for somebody who has made an advance directive at one point. However, when the time comes, even though he wants to change his mind, that may not be recognised because of his state of mind.