The Oireachtas special committee examining euthanasia and assisted dying met on Tuesday, 20th June, to hear testimony from experts on the legal and constitutional issues associated with the question of legalised euthanasia.
Before the committee hearing began, People Before Profit Gino Kenny TD, the proposer of the original ‘Dying With Dignity’ Bill, was elected vice-chairman of the committee. The chairman is pro-life independent TD Michael Healy-Rae.
Members of the Committee heard contributions from Dr. Conor Casey from the University of Surrey, Dr. Tom Hickey from Dublin City University and Dr. Andrea Mulligan from Trinity College Dublin.
There was some discussion on whether a referendum would be required to introduce legal assisted suicide in Ireland.
The committee will hear more submissions on the legal and constitutional aspects of the proposals until the Oireachtas recesses for summer, with sessions of the committee resuming when the parliament returns in September.