Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael)
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I thank the witnesses for their statements, and also for the decades of incredibly hard work that has gone into the care of people. There is not one person in this room or listening to us who has not been touched in some way by a family member receiving beautiful and person-centred palliative care in a hospice. I commend the witnesses on that.

What struck me in reading the opening statements was that each time in previous committee meetings, and for those I listened to because I was unable to be here, dignity in dying, or dying with dignity, is synonymous now, as a result of the Bill, with that end-of-life choice, with being able to determine when one's life will end, and with having the legislative oversight to be able to do it at home. By "at home" I mean in Ireland. When I read our witnesses' statements I hear "dignity" in a very different way. Perhaps have experienced it in my own family in a very different way where that dignity is in the care of the individual.

I was reflecting on where I was at one stage in the hospice in Harold's Cross, when the staff brought in a drinks trolley to a family member. That was felt to be very holistic and real where this is okay, is part of living and is part of an end coming. I want to explore with our guest speakers that dignity because I have read extensively, listened to and watched the speeches of Kathryn Mannix. Her book, With the End in Mind, considers the issue of embracing some of those difficult conversations. She has explained how to anticipate that it is more than just the individual who is facing death, but also the family. She has said that the person and his or her family can be assisted to embrace the fact that a death is coming, and helped to ensure it is dignified.

My mother spent all of my childhood praying that her mother would have a happy death. We all knew instinctively what that meant, which was to be surrounded by family, at home, comfortable and not in pain. We have a perception which is synonymous with particular illnesses that anticipates that it is going to be painful and that there is going to be suffering. Today, I believe, we have an opportunity to properly set aside some of those stereotypes and views and to discuss the question of dignity in a broader sense, which we need to do.

I ask the Irish Association of Palliative Care to respond in the first instance.