Results 801-820 of 7,637 for speaker:Rónán Mullen

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Assisted Dying in New Zealand and Australia: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: Correct.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Assisted Dying in New Zealand and Australia: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: I wish to develop a few things that arose from my previous questions. In Dr. Mewett's article, which I referred to, he mentioned a friend who had the option of going to the local palliative care unit for palliative sedation, but he wanted to die at home. Some people might be worried about the knock-on effects of changing the law even to a limited degree but recognise that many of the issues...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Assisted Dying in New Zealand and Australia: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: Dr. Mewett is in a jurisdiction that has only had this for four years. One of the issues people of good will, including those who might think in certain circumstances they can imagine cases where they would support a change in the law, are worried about is what it will look like in ten or 20 years' time. Even in Oregon where there is limited legislation, there have been big increases in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Assisted Dying in New Zealand and Australia: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: Dr. Nitschke is not squeamish, therefore. I do not mean any disrespect to Dr. Mewett, but Dr. Nitschke does not have any issues about the terming of that as an assisted suicide. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Assisted Dying in New Zealand and Australia: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: Dr. Nitschke does not have any issue with terming that an assisted suicide, because clearly it could be a person who wants to end their life without there being any medical issue or other reason.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Assisted Dying in New Zealand and Australia: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: Okay. I thank Dr. Nitschke. What is Dr. Mewett's view on whether there should ever be a limit to the request? For example, let us take it that a person has capacity. A person might have depression at various levels, he or she might have a severe disability he or she does not want to live with or he or she might have very unsupportive family or friends. All these things might feed into...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Assisted Dying in New Zealand and Australia: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: That would not be the first time, but that is allowed. Now Dr. Mewett can make his.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Assisted Dying in New Zealand and Australia: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: I did not claim it for Australia because the country only has it for a wet week.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Assisted Dying in New Zealand and Australia: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: I am sorry, what was the phrase Dr. Mewett just used?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Assisted Dying in New Zealand and Australia: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: I thank Dr. Mewett. I am trying to establish whether he would be opposed to it then in certain circumstances.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Assisted Dying in New Zealand and Australia: Discussion (28 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: I thank Dr. Mewett.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: We heard yesterday about the proposed scrapping of outdated censorship laws. There can be no argument that where laws fall into destitution, they should be disposed of. However, I hope people realise that there are still ways in which literature, and not only literature, can harm people whether it is called evil literature or not. I only have to think of the concern among many parents...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: I extend my congratulations to all involved with Project Search. I would like the Minister for Education to come into this House to explain what is going on at the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, and the very strange approach it is taking to its draft curriculum for social, personal and health education, SPHE, cycle in secondary schools.Many are concerned that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Access to Palliative Care and Social Supports: Discussion (21 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: I echo colleagues in thanking all of the witnesses for coming in to share their expertise. I will start with Ms Maguire. We heard from her and from the late Brendan Clarke. Both testimonies were moving from different perspectives. In the context of asking Ms Maguire about her experience, there is no need to name any people. She is talking about her family's experience of being completely...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Access to Palliative Care and Social Supports: Discussion (21 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: I am not putting words in Ms Maguire's mouth when I say that in all of these situations, there is not just the individual person's choice. Other people are affected as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Access to Palliative Care and Social Supports: Discussion (21 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: In other words, we must avoid naming people.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Access to Palliative Care and Social Supports: Discussion (21 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: I am finished with that line of questioning, but I thank the Chair. We are hearing that people may sometimes lack the autonomy or conditions necessary for autonomy. The availability of an assisted suicide option may draw those with mental health issues or depression towards decisions that are traumatising for their loved ones. I direct this to the palliative care experts among us. Is it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Access to Palliative Care and Social Supports: Discussion (21 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: Is that the case even if there is a law intended to be more specific and narrow, with assisted suicide rather than direct euthanasia requiring some diagnosis of a terminal illness and a certain prognosis of life?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Access to Palliative Care and Social Supports: Discussion (21 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: I will turn to Dr. Linane for a moment. Many people will be surprised to hear it being clearly said that there is no evidence that appropriate and careful use of painkillers shortens life. It is often presented that you are shortening life anyway when you turn up the morphine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying: Access to Palliative Care and Social Supports: Discussion (21 Nov 2023)

Rónán Mullen: That is maybe putting it too bluntly. Where does palliative sedation come in? That does not satisfy those who want this on grounds of autonomy and complete control. However, is it in the end possible to manage pain and suffering in most, if not all, cases if sedation is factored in where necessary towards the end?