Gino Kenny Demands Committee on Assisted Dying Before Christmas

A year and a half ago the Justice Committee recommended a special committee on the issue of assisted dying. To my knowledge there is no impediment why that committee cannot be established. Can you give a commitment to the many people who have been following this issue that the committee would be established before Christmas? It has gone on too far too long and I think we need to have a national discussion about this issue. Yes, first of all, just in terms of Deputy MacDonald's issue that I just want to put on the record of the House in thanking our public servants and recognising the work that our public servants are doing all across government for the massive effort that has gone into and continues to go into making sure that those who have come to our country seeking refuge have speedy access to the shelter and support they need. We do not have options but to avail of all offers of accommodation, including those which in ordinary times we would not consider appropriate. And that does include the use of repurposed office buildings, sports facilities and tented structures. We are not in ordinary times and we are doing all we can to provide shelter and to comply with our international obligations. As of November 13th, there are about 17,192 people accommodated in the international protection accommodation system. By comparison, at this point in last year, in 2021, there were approximately 7,250 people in IPAS accommodation. That is just in the international protection alone, separate from the Ukrainian war situation. And because of the brutal war that Putin is raging, almost 60,000 people have arrived in Ireland. And we can see the warnings this morning in respect of a freezing winter in Ukraine. The awful destruction of the infrastructure in Ukraine, which will, in my view, accelerate further migration into Europe. About 14 million people have been displaced. I think we do need to consult, but we need to engage with the public, with the horrible reality that war has brought upon the continent of Europe. And there are no easy solutions here. And we cannot suggest to people that there are easy solutions, unfortunately. And, you know, I think Minister O'Gorman has been before the Dáil in respect of this issue, to be fair, and he has spoken and he has engaged. There is no magic solution here. And I know, in the context of East Wall, you are familiar with it, but I think it does, ultimately, I think we have to be really straight with people as well. We have international obligations, and the fulfilling of those, the pressures are enormous because of a number of issues, conflict, famine, drought, climate change, and then the war on Ukraine itself. And I know that the Minister and his department are engaging with local representatives to provide the information, will be providing more information directly to the community in the coming days, and that is actually happening. And the Minister wants to foster positive linkages with the local community for the new centre in East Wall, and also committed to supporting those communities who are supporting refugees. In respect of the, I think you dealt with Deputy Kenny's issue, and Deputy Collins, again, there is five orders to base in respect of that provided for, sorry, in the Finance Bill. And I think you should support the Finance Bill, because that will give support under the TBEST scheme to many businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, in respect of the shocking increase in energy prices brought about by the war. Thank you, much again, Deputy Barrie. Deputy Deputy Patrick, the Minister for Education has been meeting with victims groups over the last number of days, and will continue that this week. and the Minister intends to meet with education spokespeople from different parties, and the idea being to see how we can progress this issue in a victim-led way. Okay, is David...