Sinn Fein’s leader has called for legislators to make a decision on euthanasia, saying the political system has “dragged its heels” on the issue.

Mary Lou McDonald said that campaigners such as Vicky Phelan had made “a really compelling case”. The Irish College of Psychiatrists issued a major policy document just before Christmas opposing assisted suicide.

Ms McDonald added that although the issue was “fraught and sensitive”, that did not absolve legislators from taking action and that the debate must not drag on “endlessly for another decade”.

McDonald added: “I think we are now at a point where we need to have the conversation. We need to listen to the evidence, we need to listen to all of the perspectives and then we need to take a decision.”

McDonald said that while she had yet to take a firm position on the issue, a decision was needed sooner rather than later. “I have an open mind on it,” she said. “I don’t have a fixed or a firm view, except that the political system has dragged its heels.”