Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This goes back to an issue we discussed earlier. It is about the advance health care directives. The Minister said she would come back to this. I understand that sections 59 and 60 relate to that area. I do not know if the Minister of State wishes to discuss it now or later but I wanted to raise it because it is proposed to delete the section that deals with it. I wish to raise those concerns that I put on the record earlier about the provisions among health service users who feel that their human rights will not be respected on the same basis as others. I understand that there are up to 400 individuals who are lobbying on this issue and who are specifically affected by it. My understanding is that ten groups met with the Department. I have raised this issue, which is a very serious concern.

I understand the Minister of State has said that she might not agree with the issue but as she has done with previous issues, I have noted that she has listened to almost all the amendments so far and is at least willing to take it on board. Without going over what I had earlier, the same issue is there. There are very serious concerns around the advance health care directives to the effect that if somebody puts something in an advance health care directive about treatments they do not wish to have, it will be recognised as well in the competencies. I ask the Minister of State to take another look at that one as well.