Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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I thank our witnesses and welcome them to the committee. I will start with a couple of questions for Mr. Copson and Mr. Riley. Some of the points that have been made by Professor Binchy and by others who have appeared before the committee focus on the interaction with others, the limits of personal autonomy and the idea that, in exercising a personal choice, you cause harm to wider society. Will Mr. Copson and Mr. Riley explore those points? How would they respond to them?

Mr. Copson also mentioned changing societal values. I will ask about something Professor Binchy mentioned, that is, the concern raised by others who have appeared before the committee that eligibility may be expanded and the so-called slippery slope. If Mr. Copson would also speak to those issues it would be very useful.

In his opening statement, Professor Binchy said:

If a person takes his or her own life, this is not simply a private matter. It resonates through society, deeply affecting family members and friends,

Any death, loss or bereavement will have that ripple effect. Surely, it is about the bereavement itself rather than the nature of the death. This leads me to be concerned that, in focusing on the effect of that autonomous decision, Professor Binchy is focusing on the wrong part. It is not the autonomous decision but the death and bereavement. One of the things that has been spoken about in these meetings is the inherent worth and dignity of the person. Humans have an inherent worth and dignity, which we all have a corresponding obligation to respect. As has been said, pre-empting my question, dying is an essential part of life. If we have got to a point in life where there is no dignity, do we not need to respect that inherent dignity by accepting that death is part of life, that both are part of the one spectrum and that the best way to respect that inherent worth and dignity may be to respect individual autonomy as to when one's life ends?

I will ask Mr. Riley and Mr. Copson to respond first, followed by Professor Binchy.