Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for being here to take this matter. I also thank her for clarifying exactly where we are with regard to this. Of course, I acknowledge that this was in the programme for Government. I have fought for this and have been very struck by those going through this, no more than during the presentation in the AV room, which the Minister of State mentioned, and it is something that we absolutely need to do.It is welcome and the Minister of State confirmed that a detailed memo on the findings of the reports and next steps were considered by the Government this morning. Those next steps are hugely important. I accept and appreciate the fact that the Minister has requested that an ambitious work programme be undertaken and that the report will be published imminently. However, I would like if the Minister of State could put some type of timescale around that. When would we expect to see the report of the group? What are the next steps and when would we take them? I appreciate the Minister of State's reassurance that the Government is committed to ensuring that terminally ill patients will have access to these services but I have to draw the Minister of State back to what the Ombudsman said last year in terms of misinformation that can be given out that is misleading and that contains inconsistencies. It is so important that we get all of that right.