Government 'avoiding the issue' of assisted dying legislation 

A 2024 poll of people living in rural Ireland found that the majority of people would support legislation to enable assisted dying or euthanasia

Confirming that 'no decision' has yet been taken on the matter, justice minister Jim O'Callaghan has described the issue of assisted dying as 'very complex', adding that it would require careful consideration of medical, ethical, and cultural issues. File picture: Niall Carson/PA

The Government has been accused of "avoiding" the sensitive issue of assisted dying by failing to act on a cross-party recommendation to introduce the measure.

It is more than two years since a special Oireachtas Committee report recommended that Government roll out legislation to allow for assisted dying in certain restricted circumstances.

Confirming that "no decision" has yet been taken on the matter, justice minister Jim O'Callaghan has described the issue of assisted dying as "very complex", adding that it would require careful consideration of medical, ethical, and cultural issues.

"It also gives rise to challenging issues in the areas of criminal justice and constitutional law," Mr O'Callaghan said.

Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane, who was a member of the committee that examined assisted dying, hit out at the lack of action, claiming that "people deserve a clear answer".

"This was a serious report, and it was the result of a lot of work by the committee. Assisted dying is a very difficult and sensitive issue. It is not easy to legislate for, and there are strong views on all sides.

"But the Government cannot keep avoiding the issue," said Mr Cullinane.

Assisted dying is legal in a growing number of countries including Switzerland, Canada, and the Netherlands. However, last week British prime minister Andy Burnham signalled that it will be some time before such a measure is introduced in the UK, stating that the funding of palliative and social care should be "fixed" before it is considered.

The Joint Committee on Assisted Dying was established in January 2023 to consider and make recommendations for legislative and policy change in relation to assisted dying.

It made 38 recommendations, including that assisted dying be legislated for in cases where a person with an incurable illness is expected to die within six months, extended to 12 months when a person has been diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease.

Following its publication, the Dáil voted to "note" a report in October 2024.

The three coalition parties allowed a free vote on the issue, saying that it was a matter of conscience, leading to a 76-53 vote in favour of accepting a motion which notes the final report from the Joint Committee on Assisted Dying.

Asked about progress on the issue, Mr O'Callaghan said: "It is a matter for Government, on foot of the Dáil vote, to determine how to progress this issue, including with regard to which Department will take a lead role in relation to it.

"No decision has been taken, as of yet, as regards any proposed legislative or other actions to be taken," he said

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Mr Cullinane said the Government now needs to clearly set out its position on whether it supports the recommendation, whether it plans to legislate or whether it intends to take a different approach, as the report "cannot simply be left sitting on a shelf".

Campaigners have long been calling for new laws to allow for assisted dying in Ireland with former People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny championing the cause in the Dáil which led to the establishment of a special committee on the matter.

An Irish Examiner/Ipsos poll of people living in rural Ireland found that the majority of people would support legislation to enable assisted dying or euthanasia.

The 2024 poll revealed that 57% of people were in favour of the measure, with just 21% of those polled opposed.

When people in rural Ireland were asked if Ireland should introduce laws to permit assisted dying and euthanasia, 32% strongly agreed, 25% somewhat agreed, 10% neither agreed nor disagreed, 5% somewhat disagreed; 16% strongly disagreed and 9% didn’t know.

• Elaine Loughlin is Irish Examiner Political Editor.