Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 10 October 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying

Ethics of End-of-Life Care: Discussion (Resumed)

Mr. Tom Curran:

The Swiss system, as I said, has been put in place since the early 1940s. It has existed for a long time. The reason why it gets no criticism from anybody else is that it works. The application process is relatively simple but the Swiss are, I would say - and I am sorry for using this term - Germanic. It is the only term I can think of. They are very rigid in what they allow but it works. I cannot go through the legislation with the Deputy in detail but I would be more than happy to meet up with her any time, and go through it in whatever detail she likes.

All I can say is there is no criticism of it because it works.