Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)

That does not apply to health issues. The Deputy is adding a layer of complexity that does not exist. This is practical legislation. I have taken on board the concerns of Members. I am not precious about where the legislation goes but I would like to find the intent to be covered by legislation. I do not mind whether it comes under the mental capacity legislation or whether it is a stand alone Bill. There are pluses and minuses to both approaches. However, all we should look for is that advance health care directives are included in some Bill passed by the House to ensure we pursue the ethos we have adopted in recent years to make patients the centre of our health services. That is the approach we should take.

I appreciate the opportunity to discuss this and I also appreciate the remarks made by colleagues, which were positive and supportive, and that is important. I would like the Bill to be referred to the Select Sub-committee on Health to be teased out. The Irish Hospice Foundation, Amnesty International and other organisations have been involved in pursuing this. Dr. Siobhán O'Sullivan from the Department of Health, who is present, has worked tirelessly on this issue and she has good ideas in this regard. She shares many of my ideas, as do many other people. There is a consensus on this issue but it is time to give legal effect to advance health care directives that people have and that they want included on their medical files in order that when doctors and nurses make decisions about them, their views will be taken into account through the directives.

I thank everybody for attending and I hope the Bill progresses.

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