Vicky Phelan calls for politicians to support Dying with Dignity Bill

Campaigner Vicky Phelan has called on politicians to support the "Dying with Dignity Bill", set to be introduced in the Dáil on Tuesday.

At a press conference regarding the bill at Leinster House this afternoon, Solidarity People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny and Labour leader Alan Kelly called for support for the bill.

They were joined by cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan, Tom Curran (husband of the late Marie Fleming) and Gail O’Rourke who was acquitted of helping her friend end her own life.

Ms. Phelan spoke outside Leinster House about how people with terminal illnesses should be given the choice to die.

"No matter how good palliative care is, there is still a certain amount of suffering that palliative care often cannot get on top of," she said.

"I have two young children and I'm going to die within the next few years and I don't want my children's last memories to be of me dying in pain. I want to make that choice."

Mr Kenny said while he fully understands people will have differing views on the sensitive issue, the bill is about starting a discussion on the merits of this legislation.

“I appeal to my fellow TDs to support the progress of this bill when it's due for debate later this year.

"I’m calling on party leaders to allow a free vote /vote of conscience if there isn’t a clear party position to progress the bill,” he said.

The bill, if enacted, would give a medical practitioner the legal right to assist someone who qualifies under the terms set out in the act to end his or her own life.