Professor Ben White:

My focus probably would be on Australia but I guess, without wider context, it is possible to have safe voluntary assisted dying. I am following the reliable evidence that is out there on that.

In Australia, we have a totally constrained and focused model and the research and, indeed, the oversight reports show the system is operating as intended. That would be the short version.

I probably would add that if Ireland is thinking about the Australian model, I guess it should have in mind the issue of accessibility as well. In Australia, there was so much focus on making sure the law was safe that sometimes the ability for the law to be useable and navigable by the patient was not given perhaps enough attention. That is perhaps one thing for Ireland to consider.

I should say as well that our model in Australia situates voluntary assisted dying within healthcare. I am conscious of allowing others to speak, so I will not say more on that, but I am happy to speak to that. That has been a positive for Australia but I recognise there are different models internationally which function.