An advocate of assisted dying and former TD has said he does not believe that the practice will be legalised within the lifetime of the current Dáil. 

In 2024, just a few months before the General Election, a Special Oireachtas Joint Committee on Assisted Dying called for the Government to bring forward legislation on the issue for TDs to scrutinise. 

Two years on, former People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny, who served as the Committee’s Leas-Chathaoirleach, said he does not believe the Government has any interest in the topic.  

“I just don’t see this Government legislating for assisted dying,” he told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“Even though in the last Dáil, a majority of TDs and Senators made a commitment to change the legislation.”

Since the Oireachtas report, the British and Scottish Parliaments have both considered and rejected assisted dying legislation, with the issue of coercion cited by many who voted against the bills. 

Mr Kenny admitted that assisted dying is a “very, very complex” issue but noted that a significant number of western countries have legalised it. 

“Usually what happens [in] different jurisdictions across the world, it's usually opposition TDs or MPs or parties that actually push the legislation,” he explained. 

“Obviously, in the last Dáil, People for Profit pushed that legislation with the support of others. 

“Assisted dying, I think, should transcend party politics and it should be an individual choice of TDs or MPs.”

A child is seen with a candle at a pro life demonstration outside the Victorian State Parliament, Melbourne to oppose the an assisted dying law. Picture by: AAP Image/James Ross. 

Mr Kenny added that social attitudes have changed significantly in Ireland in recent years and argued that most people now support assisted dying. 

“Well, if you look at the numerous public opinion polls that have been done in the last decade, they have definitely shifted towards a majority that would support assisted dying if it was legislated for,” he said. 

“If you took that poll maybe 15 years ago, I think it would have been probably the opposite. 

“But there's a clear shift in Ireland and in different countries where assisted dying, if it was legislated for properly, would be supported by the public.”

The former TD for Dublin Mid-West said death “affects everybody” and Government should allow terminally ill people a choice about when they die. 

“We all have experiences where a loved one dies - most of the time, peacefully - but there are situations where somebody is coming to the end of their life, it could be very complicated, it could be very painful,” he said. 

“Somebody in that situation should have a choice to forgo days, weeks, or possibly months in terms of how they're going to die.

“It's about choice and it's about taking control of one's life, if they do not want to go through a very difficult part of that life.

“I think eventually it will be legislated for, I would hope that it's in the lifetime of this Government - I just don't see it.”

Main image: The hands of an elderly person. Picture by: Alamy.com.