The Joint Committee on Assisted Dying will publish its report on 20 March

The Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying is set to recommend that both euthanasia and assisted suicide be introduced in Ireland. This legislation would apply to an individual diagnosed with a condition which is “incurable, irreversible, progressive”, and who is expected to die within a 6 month period. It’s also expected that the timeline for those with a neurodegenerative condition would be extended to 12 months.

The committee is also set to recommend that the proposed legislation should outline that the illness must be causing suffering which cannot be relieved in a way that the ill person finds tolerable. In these cases, the assisted death would be overseen by a medical professional. It is understood that the proposed legislation would require two doctors to sign off on a person’s incurable and terminal condition before euthanasia or assisted suicide is considered.

It’s currently unclear as to whether the government will follow the expected recommendation and introduce new legislation before the general election, which is expected later this year. However, if the government does agree to the recommended new laws, Ireland will join countries such as Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Austria which allow forms of assisted dying in certain circumstances.

Religious groups have voiced their opposition to the legislation. However, the recommendations have been welcomed by advocacy groups such as End of Life Ireland. Janie Lazar, chair of the organisation, has stated “We’ve been working hard to get people talking about assisted dying and about the choices that should be available to those who have no time to wait or waste.”

The committee believes that no constitutional change is required to introduce this law.

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