Disabled community worried about being used as 'pawns' in assisted dying debate

Independent Living Movement Ireland Development officer, Peter Kearns, said many with disabilities are “hugely concerned” and opposed to legislation as it could become a “slippery slope” moving from the “subjective undefined phrase of ‘dying with dignity’ to assisted suicide”. File photo: Andrew Matthews/PA

Those living with disabilities do not wish to be used as “pawns” for either side of the debate on assisted dying and are “hugely concerned” about legislation, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

At previous hearings, the committee heard that disability should not be an eligibility criteria to access assisted dying while other witnesses have said people with disabilities should not be excluded from access if criteria were met.