Éamon Ó Cuív spoke on 17 October 2024 about proposed end-of-life measures, accepting it is a difficult issue but warning that once access is opened it cannot be limited and tends to expand. He expressed serious reservations, warned about moral and social pressure on older people, and urged the State to ensure universal, high-quality palliative care.
Main concern about widening access
He argued there is "no such thing, once you open the door, as limiting access" and pointed to examples in other jurisdictions where initially limited measures have been widened over time. He said proponents often start with very limited proposals that later expand.
Pressure on older people and inevitability of death
Speaking from the perspective of someone in the older age bracket, he said the older you get the more you face the inevitability of death and expressed concern that moral pressure could build on vulnerable people. He warned that pressure over time might influence decisions, particularly among the elderly.
Palliative care and the role of the State
He rejected the dismissal of palliative care specialists, arguing that science has advanced and that the views of doctors, nurses and specialists should not be treated as irrelevant. He said it is absolutely vital for the State, if taking a caring approach, to ensure everyone has access to very high quality palliative care.
Call for wide debate and reservations
He said the proposal deserves a wide debate and voiced serious reservations about the direction of travel, echoing points raised by Deputy Durkan. He asked for further consideration of process and expressed a reserved view on the matter.
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I will be very brief, and I appreciate the time. I have to say that I accept that this is a difficult issue, but I believe there is no such thing, once you open the door, as limiting access, and we have seen in all jurisdictions that it has grown, that has been introduced, it has grown, and grown, and grown. And often what happens in a situation like this, the proponents at the very beginning propose something very, very limited, and it then gets widened and widened. Now somebody who, not according to Wikipedia, quite the age of the esteemed chair, but who is in the older age bracket, I'd have to say I'd be very, very concerned about such a suggestion. And I do, I think the older you get, the more you face the inevitability that you die. But I do think that there is a danger of pressure being put on people, moral pressure over time, as this would expand. And I have to say that I have serious reservations. I do believe it deserves a wide debate. I do not go along with the argument that the view of palliative care, doctors and specialists and nurses, can be just dismissed, has been irrelevant. Science has advanced. I believe that what the Minister said in terms of palliative care, and the State, is a huge importance here. And that it is absolutely vital for the State, if we are taking a really caring attitude, that everyone would have access to a very high quality palliative care. And, let's be honest about it, most people cling on dearly to life, even when they know they are terminally ill. Most people go to extraordinary lengths to extend their life, even though they are suffering quite a bit, because it seems to be built into our DNA. So, I do have serious reservations about the road we are going on, looking around the world at other jurisdictions. And I think that that was the point that Deputy Durkan made. And I would just like to voice my reserved view on that. And I think that a lot of people thank you. And now we're not talking about how we call the workspace. The next time let's answer the process. What's a appropriate situation that faced Pier見て? That even if you wish. Mm-hm! Myhali prophet who чуть- foarte rio . I am a bigot of people raise yourast, including a private movement to the media for the audience
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