Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Senators Ruane, Hoey and Seery Kearney.

Parliamentary privilege is considered to apply to the utterances of members participating online in a committee meeting when their participation is from within the parliamentary precincts. There can be no assurances in relation to participation online from outside the parliamentary precincts and members should be mindful of this when contributing. This committee discusses dying, including suicide. Support information can be found on the committee's web page.

Our agenda item today is engagement on the topic of assisted dying, healthcare provision and healthcare professionals. I should say, before I welcome the witnesses and so nobody will think I am being unduly tough about time, that because of Dáil questions and the timing of the start of Dáil proceedings today we really have to be strict on time. The witnesses will know that their opening slot is five minutes. Members will have a certain amount of time and that includes the time for the responses. Please do not think I am being tough or anything; I just have to run the meeting very professionally to ensure we get through the business we need to within the timeframe allowed.

I very warmly welcome Dr. Feargal Twomey from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, RCPI, and Mr. Martin Varley, Dr. Gabrielle Colleran, Professor Robert Landers, Dr. Andrew Lyne and Dr. Brendan O'Shea. On behalf of the members and the secretariat, we appreciate your coming here so much. The level of importance of the witnesses and the engagement we have had to date is significant. What we are doing here is very serious work. The implications of it for people in the future is of enormous importance, so you being here is really welcomed by all of us. We really appreciate you and your expertise and we are very thankful for your being here.

I want to go first to Dr. Twomey to give his opening statement.