20 Nov 2023, 16:15
The Joint Committee on Assisted Dying will meet on Tuesday November 21st on the topic of ensuring access to palliative care and social supports.
The meeting will take place in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House between 11:00-14:00.
The committee will hear from representatives from the Irish Association of Palliative Care, the Irish Hospice Foundation and Hope Ireland.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Michael Healy-Rae said: "We welcome the opportunity to discuss access to palliative care and social supports in relation to the topic of assisted dying. This is the third public meeting in a series of four in the Committee’s module examining potential safeguards in relation to assisted dying.”
“According to the CSO, more than 35,000 deaths were registered in Ireland last year which equates to almost 100 people dying every day. Some 83% of these deaths are people aged over 65 and while the majority of people will die in a hospital, nursing home or hospice."
“A 2016 survey by the Irish Hospice Foundation found that people ideally wanted to be cared for at home, to be pain free and to feel comfortable and cared for as they approached end of life.”
“There has been a difference in opinion between some witnesses as to whether support services can be improved to the level where requests for assisted dying would not occur or whether there will be always individuals who will seek assistance in dying.”
Watch the meeting live here or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.