End-of-life forum gets over 140 submissions

A FORUM on the end of life, an initiative of the Irish Hospice Foundation, has announced it has completed the “listening phase” of a year-long public consultation on dying.

As part of what was called “the national conversation on dying, death and bereavement”, which included public meetings at regional locations, more than 140 written submissions were received.

Topics addressed by the forum at seminars across the country included issues such as: Whose Death is it Anyway?and The Cost of Living, the Cost of Dying.

Panellists have included solicitors, funeral undertakers, health professionals and carers, among others.

The forum, which launched by the President Mrs McAleese last March, is chaired by the broadcaster Marian Finucane.

It said it expects to publish a draft report on its activities by March 2010.

This will be followed by a further public consultation, with a final report is to be published at the end of April 2010.

An action plan is also planned “to guide what needs to happen to bring about reform of our policies and practices around end-of-life issues.”

According to Ms Finucane, the interest in the work of the forum and the level of public engagement in its activities, was “overwhelming proof that people want to see reform of our end-of-life practices and policies”.

She said while the formal “listening phase” of the forum has been completed, “people can still record their views, and their perspectives will inform our work as we implement the action plan in 2010”.

“We would encourage people to read the report that emerges from the forum. The consultation process that follows will allow us to confirm recommendations, set priorities and establish a timeline,” she added.

After the report a national coalition will be established to advance the vision and action plan that emerge from the work of the forum, according to the group.