Results 7,001-7,020 of 7,644 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Animal Welfare (24 Jan 2024)

Rónán Mullen: It is the same startle.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Rónán Mullen: I thank all our guests, whose locations are in different time zones, for contributing on this. My first question is for Dr. MacLeod, who is from New Zealand. We have heard much in recent weeks from people who say that if we look to Australia, New Zealand and Oregon, we see mainly assisted dying, not the runaway train seen in the Netherlands, Canada, Belgium and so on. New Zealand and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Rónán Mullen: I apologise for interrupting but I am caught for time. Does Professor MacLeod have any comment on the Australian situation? Has he looked beyond the New Zealand experience?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Rónán Mullen: Professor Preston referenced the idea of taking it out of the healthcare system entirely, if it is to be done. A recurring feature in our discussions is that many doctors and other healthcare professionals are disturbed by the experience of being involved. They think it compromises good palliative care and worry about the burdening of other people, as well as the changing of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Rónán Mullen: I thank Professor MacLeod. I agree with everything Professor White said in respect of moving from ethical considerations of the right and wrong of it to the factual analysis of the impact of things and the importance of a fully evidence-based approach. Notwithstanding my agreement with Professor White, I note he was commissioned by the state government of Victoria, Western Australia to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Rónán Mullen: Has Professor White then come to a view that there is nothing wrong with what is happening in Canada?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Rónán Mullen: Can I ask-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Rónán Mullen: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Rónán Mullen: I thank our expert witnesses again. The information is all very helpful. It is noteworthy that countries that have legalised assisted dying, particularly in recent years, have been giving themselves an A grade for compliance and safety. Professor White's definition of safety was very helpful. With regard to examining eligibility, are systems able to ensure that only those who are eligible...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Rónán Mullen: What did Professor White see in Canada, for example? When he examined research from there, what conclusions did he draw?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Rónán Mullen: But he did refer to some Canadian research that he was aware of. What did it show him?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Rónán Mullen: What is the professor's recollection of it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (30 Jan 2024)

Rónán Mullen: I am not hearing very much that is reassuring, though, given that something like 7% of deaths in Quebec are now a result of euthanasia and assisted suicide. It has been several weeks since we looked at the figures, but the statistic is shocking. This is why countries like New Zealand and Australia have to be a little bit careful about telling us how safe things can be if they extend the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Rónán Mullen: I thank our guests for coming in. Reading between the lines of Dr. Ní Bhriain's statement, one might sum up page 1 by saying, "Don't do it", sum up page 2 by saying, "Please don't do it" and sum up page 3, as a lay reader, by saying, "Oh God, please don't do it." The clear subtext of this paper is to point to the many concerns we, as members of the committee, have heard about week...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Rónán Mullen: Is Dr. Twomey confident that safeguards could address what is, let us face it, a long list of risk issues?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Rónán Mullen: Has Dr. Twomey a professional view as to whether, if assisted dying were to come in, it would be better to keep medicine and medical professionals out of the process?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Rónán Mullen: Proponents of assisted suicide from other jurisdictions have suggested that this can be done as part of palliative care and it should sit alongside it. Palliative care experts have said it holds back and would interfere with palliative care. Is it Dr. Twomey's view that it would interfere with palliative care and the way it can be delivered? Does it bring about a fundamental change of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Rónán Mullen: I am trying to get to whether the witnesses have any knowledge or sense that, in principle and by definition, an assisted suicide or euthanasia regime could interfere with the ability to deliver high-quality palliative care.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Rónán Mullen: The Senator was leading the witness though.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: System for Assisted Dying and Alternative Policies: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Feb 2024)

Rónán Mullen: Those last comments by Dr. Twomey are significant. What he said about conscientious objection is also significant and we should revisit the issue of allowing people who have a professional or moral objection or whatever, especially where the State is paying for, providing or permitting. It is important people are able to disengage completely, rather than having to transfer for care, but...