Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael)
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I thank the witnesses for their considered opening statements. Following Professor Watson's comment on the Spice Girls I interpret that next paragraph as questioning whether we should create a right for Irish people to autonomously be able to seek help to end their lives at a time of their choosing, to improve the number of people who are unable to live until they die, knowing that there were neither abandoned or had their suffering ignored. I do not see it as a juxtaposition of two differing positions. Instead I see it as being that in actual fact we are extending the care to those who anticipate a death that would not be of their choosing, to an infinitesimally small group of people. I see it within that context of caring. I am a little uncomfortable with the possibility that if we were to choose it, that is to say we are going to leave people abandoned. I think alleviation of suffering would be the motivation of those of us who are in the middle ground here in trying to make a decision. I would like Professor Watson to consider that.

I have met Dr. Cranfield and discussed the idea in the opening statement of the wish to die being transient. How do we do that?

I have a difficulty with Dr. Doré's use of the phrase "incorrect death". I have gone into the background reports, reviews and assessments on the Netherlands. I am a little disappointed not to see more action arising when perhaps a step regarding safeguards has been omitted. I think, however, that the use of the phrase "incorrect death" here is a little sweeping and consequently I need him to contextualise it for me.