David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome all of our witnesses and I wish to begin by thanking the organisations for the work they do. To those who provide palliative care, I wish to say a sincere thanks on my own behalf. My mam died in a palliative care centre in Harold’s Cross a number of years ago. She was in St. James’s Hospital and she had a cancer diagnosis. She spent a year in care, starting around Christmas or January, and it was a difficult time for her family. She got great care in St. James’s Hospital but the difference it made to be transferred from the hospital to a palliative care centre was like going to a different planet and we got very kind support from staff. My constituency of Waterford now has a palliative care centre, which provides first-class services.

I hope that one of the things to come from this committee, and I know that the core purpose of the committee is to look at the issue of assisted dying, but there has been lots of learning about palliative care and that learning has been really useful. Whatever about changes to the legislative position - and that is a matter for this committee and maybe, ultimately, the public, if there is a referendum or a citizens’ assembly - I hope that at this point one of the key things that will emerge from this committee will revolve around the need look at the recommendations that are being made in the context of improving palliative care. There have been lots of very positive recommendations - again, from the witnesses today - that I think would serve any Minister for Health well in terms of ensuring access to quality palliative care, mental health supports, health and social care and treatment for chronic pain. We know that there have been some developments as there are chronic disease management teams in communities. Again, I thank everyone for their work.

I know that the Cathaoirleach called on us to broaden the debate, but I want to first direct my questions to the representatives of the Irish Association for Palliative Care. When we talk about euthanasia and assisted suicide, the terminology used is important. Others would use the term “assisted dying” as opposed to those of "euthanasia" or "physician assisted suicide". Do our guests accept that? Is that a term that they would also use or would not have a difficulty with being used to describe what they might call assisted suicide while others would call assisted dying?