Dáil to vote on final Oireachtas report on assisted dying

The Dáil will vote on the final report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying next week.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said it would be a free vote for Fianna Fáil deputies.

People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny has called on other political parties to adopt a similar approach.

After months of hearings, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying last March called on the Government to legalise assisted dying in certain restricted circumstances.

The recommendation was backed by nine of the 14 committee members, however three others issued a dissenting report opposing such a move.

The final report was debated in the Dáil yesterday and, due to an intervention by Mr Kenny, it will be voted on next Wednesday.

However, the vote will only be indicative - in that it will give an indication as to what TDs think, but it will not change anything, as substantial legislation would be required.

Mr Martin said he had decided that it will be a free vote... or a vote conscience... in which each Fianna Fáil deputy can make up their own mind.

But he remarked that he had serious reservations about what was proposed by the majority of the Assisted Dying Committee.

Earlier this week, the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland described the introduction of laws to permit assisted suicide as "an affront" to a safe and protective society.

In a statement, Archbishop Eamon Martin said such legislation should be strongly opposed.