Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 222: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the activities of a group (details supplied) and the fact that no prosecutions have ever been mounted under the Criminal Law (Suicide) Act 1993, he will make a statement as to whether a review of the operation of the said Act might be timely and if additional safeguards are required to protect the rights of the terminally ill and vulnerable under Irish law. [4700/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Criminal Law (Suicide) Act 1993 decriminalised the action of suicide. The fact that suicide is not an offence provides some small consolation to bereaved relatives and friends. However, the Act is robust and unequivocal in relation to the serious criminal offence committed by persons who assist a person to commit suicide or to attempt to commit suicide, with conviction on indictment incurring a term of up to 14 years.

There is little evidence of incidents of assisted suicide either in this jurisdiction or in relation to travelling to a jurisdiction whose legal system is apparently not adverse to assisted suicide at the request of the person. It follows that there have been no prosecutions under the Act.

Where appropriate, extradition proceedings can be put in train. For example, there are arrangements in place for the extradition of persons between Ireland and Switzerland under the 1957 European Convention on Extradition and a number of other international agreements to which Ireland and Switzerland are party. I believe that the legislation provides for current requirements and I do not consider that a review is warranted at this time.