Recent polling results indicating that 55% of the Irish public are in favour of assisted suicide has prompted SPUC to warn of the "looming threat" of physician assisted suicide. SPUC Deputy Chief Executive, John Deighan said: "The continual promotion of emotive stories in favour of assisted suicide in the media is part of the cultural battle being waged to change the law in this area. No doubt these efforts are influencing opinion polls. We must remain vigilant to assisted suicide seeping into society."

The polling, conducted by Amarach Research Panel, found that 55% of those surveyed supported the legalisation of assisted suicide. Only 22% opposed the concept.

Mr Deighan said: "We have witnessed dreadful changes in Ireland in recent years in relation to abortion. Now we are seeing a further threat to innocent lives looming on the horizon. We need to combat these threats by exposing the reality of assisted suicide. Evidence from around the world shows that the so-called right to die quickly becomes the duty to die."

Pro-death Ideology advancing in Ireland

Ireland has undergone a massive cultural shift in recent years. In 2018, the repeal of the eighth amendment, which gave the unborn the equal right to life in the Irish Constitution, saw abortion implemented in the country. SPUC are now warning of the threat of assisted suicide which appears to be advancing.

Independent Alliance Minister, John Halligan, is currently lobbying colleagues in the Dail to legislate for euthanasia. In 2016, Halligan introduced a Private Member’s Bill on assisted suicide which could have enabled euthanasia for the terminally ill.

Lax suicide laws in the United Kingdom

SPUC has been reporting on combined efforts of medical groups and politicians to embed the practice of assisted suicide into the United Kingdom.

Earlier this year, as reported by SPUC, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) announced that its position on assisted suicide would move from one of opposition to neutrality, despite that being the least favoured option in the ballot.

Politicians have been relentlessly pursuing the introduction of lax suicide laws into the United Kingdom. Significant assaults n the law in 2019 have included the debate on assisted suicide brought forward by Nick Boles MP and an attempt by David Gauke MP to launch an inquiry into assisted suicide.

Records show that politicians are steadily beginning to embrace the concept of assisted suicide. In 2010, 65.9% of Westminster politicians opposed assisted suicide. However, currently, only 35.6% of Westminster politicians oppose assisted suicide with 37.5% ‘unknown’.

Mr Deighan added: "We must work to enhance life for sick, disabled and elderly people, not pass a law which offers them death as a solution to their problems.

"The current law protects every citizen, especially the elderly, sick and disabled. Offering people the choice to end their lives creates unacceptable pressure for them to choose death. It is vital that we resist all attempts to embed the abhorrent practice of assisted suicide into society".