Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

These amendments are sensible and we all want to ensure a person would, if possible, have his or her wishes fulfilled. This is the appropriate way to do it. It is a good idea to have the medical practitioner as a person whose views can be considered reliable in this regard. Many people - Deputy Reilly may not be able to say this because he might be accused of a conflict of interest - tell their GPs a lot of things they might not tell anybody else. They open their hearts at times to their GPs. Registered medical practitioners can include other practitioners. Often they will be appropriate persons who can best interpret the wishes of the persons concerned. I have no problem with these amendments.

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