Sir, – Dr Niall Feeney’s letter (March 18th) was plausible and convincing, but alarming in its naive assumption that we can trust that the “correct checks and balances” can be put in place to prevent any initial assisted dying legislation becoming “progressively more liberal”. There is plenty of evidence to the contrary from other countries. Here in Ireland, we need look no further than the promised safeguards introduced into our abortion legislation in 2018. In 2023, a mere five years later, 67 of our TDs voted to remove every single one of those safeguards from the legislation. Not one TD from Sinn Féin, Labour, People Before Profit, Social Democrats or Greens, in fact, voted to retain any of these safeguards, despite the commitments given to the electorate at the time.
Why should it be any different with assisted dying legislation? – Yours, etc,
JIM STACK,
Lismore,
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Co Waterford.
Sir, – Assisted dying has been present in Ireland for decades, through the great work of palliative care.
A more honest terminology for what is now being proposed would be “accelerated dying”. – Yours, etc,
JUDITH LEONARD,
Raheny,
Dublin 5.
