Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Ó Brolcháin for affording me the opportunity to make a short contribution to this debate. I concur with what he said about pairing. It is a pity Members of the Opposition and Opposition parties do not reflect the regard the President has for the Seanad. They should reflect on this point. There is nothing to be gained from disrupting the business of this House because there is a vote in the Lower House. Senator Ó Brolcháin put this point very well and I support him on it.

I compliment the Independent Senators who tabled this motion. I listened in particular to the proposer, Senator Mullen, who made excellent points in respect of end-of-life issues. Many people working in this area have assisted the evolution of a very caring approach in palliative care through the Irish Hospice Foundation. I became familiar with this when I was involved with the New Ross community hospital. When our district hospital closed we reopened it as a community hospital and established a small hospice unit. The Minister of State is familiar with the hospital. I know how valuable it was to those who had to avail of it and those who were terminally ill. When they were not in a position to remain in their homes, they remained in the community and were accessible for visits from close relatives. This is of great importance to those who are ill and to their nearest and dearest. This is the caring approach I would like to see pursued.

The Minister of State has not yet spoken but I would like if she could provide reassurance. Some elements of society are appointed to various ethics committees and other bodies to chart a way forward with regard to this particular topics. We have seen this in the area of embryonic stem cell research. People of questionable views are able to articulate them and shape public policy as a consequence. We need to safeguard and ensure people appointed to such bodies are objective. I would like assurances that there are no people with preconceived ideas involved in the formulation of policy with regard to assisted suicide or euthanasia. These are alien to the dignity of the human person, which was so eloquently espoused and set out by the Pope on his recent visit to England. We should follow much of that philosophy about the value of human dignity. I refer in particular to those who are most vulnerable, including the very young and very old, who are ill and sometimes unable to articulate their needs.