James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I welcome these amendments. They add to the Bill. It is only right and proper that persons of diminished capacity should still have a say in indicating who they feel might be best positioned to represent them when they become of that state of mind. In other words, a person's wishes may have been expressed before he or she was no longer compos mentis. The definition of "compos mentis" is to understand the value of one's property, the consequences of one's action and the implications for oneself.

Even though a person may not have such understanding, he or she may still have a sense of who is best fit to represent them, given a lengthy relationship over many years before a sad occurrence happens. I have no issue with the second part. The Minister is correct and the Seanad was wise to add the term "the medical practitioner who has carried out the assessment". The less room for a conflict of interest the better. I have no issue with these amendments.

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