Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

While I am very sympathetic to Senator O'Donnell's amendment, I have one concern, which the Senator might address. Her amendment includes the words "in so far as that is practicable". I recall the turmoil of my elderly mother who wanted to live independently long after she was able to so do. At one stage, we had a nurse caring for her and over a period of six months, €54,000 was consumed. What caused us to make the final decision was finding her lying on the floor of her apartment, where she had been lying for several hours. We were confronted with the moral question as to whether we should make a decision for her. My mother was very lucid and was with it most of the time. It is that practical issue that I am trying to address. While I would like to support what the Senator said, I need that teased out a little more.