Legislation to allow ‘assisted suicide’ of those with six months to live has been recommended by a special Oireachtas committee. This was despite repeated warnings from expert witnesses that such a move would eventually lead to a widening of the grounds as in other countries.

However, a minority report will also be published recommending no such legislation.

The report of the committee says a new law should apply to those with six months to live, or 12 months where there is a neurodegenerative condition.

It argues that when a person’s capacity to make a decision is in doubt, a functional test should be introduced as part of the assessment for eligibility.

If someone assessed for assisted suicide temporarily loses decision-making capacity, the committee argues that their eligibility should be suspended while they are incapacitated.

A healthcare workers’ right to conscientious objection should be protected in law, although they will be obliged to refer a patient to a participating professional or oversight body.

To be considered for ‘assisted dying’, two formal requests must be made with a set specified interval in between – with at least one of these recorded in writing, before two independent witnesses.

Family members or other parties such as carers or guardians will not be able to request assisted dying for another person.