The issue of assisted suicide is of such import that it should be discussed by the Citizens’ Assembly, according to the joint committee on Justice and Equality. The committee itself had examined the issue in detail but failed to reach a “clear consensus” on whether a new law is needed. It has now recommended referring the issue to a citizens’ assembly before another specially convened Oireachtas committee gives it further consideration. “Given the gravity of the debate, it warrants as rigorous an examination as possible,” the cross-party group concluded.

In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled a man had no right to help his partner to commit suicide but the Chief Justice, Susan Denham, said that nothing in the constitution prevented the Oireachtas from legislating on the matter directly. Assisting a suicide is currently a criminal offence, punishable by a prison sentence of up to 14 years.