Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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221. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when the advanced health care directives legislation will be brought before Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16597/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Government approved on 12 March 2013 the drafting by the Department of Health of the General Scheme and Heads of provisions to legislate for advance healthcare directives and for these provisions to be incorporated into the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity)Bill at Dáil Committee Stage. Given the intersection between the aims of the capacity legislation and the role of advance healthcare directives, the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill 2013 is considered to be the most appropriate vehicle for providing a legislative framework for advance healthcare directives.

In February 2014 the Government approved the draft General Scheme providing for advance healthcare directives. A public consultation was subsequently initiated during which a total of 67 submissions were received. The General Scheme was revised following the public consultation. It has subsequently been converted into Committee Stage Amendments ready for incorporation into the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill at Dáil Committee Stage which is scheduled for the end of May 2015.