X users blast Irish senator for 'appalling' attitude at euthanasia committee meeting

A senator has been blasted for her "appalling" attitude towards a witness during a Joint Committee on Assisted Dying and Ethics of Autonomy. 

Social media users across Ireland shared their opinions after a clip of the meeting - which took place on October 24, 2023 - went viral on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday (November 9).  

A number of Irish commentators including columnist, David Quinn, and editor of the Irish Catholic News, Michael Kelly, shared the clip, which shows Senator Lynn Ruane questioning invited witness, Professor William Binchy, about assisted dying and autonomy. 

In the clip, the senator can be heard accusing the professor of not answering her questions and giving answers in the context of religious terms rather than human rights terms. 

Professor Binchy - a legal adviser to the Pro Life Campaign and Fellow Emeritus at Trinity College Dublin's School of Law - asked to be allowed to speak without interruption, calling it "a waste of [Ruane's] time", to which she replied, "A lot of this has been." 

Senator Ruane asked the professor whether it is right or wrong to end one's life, to which he replied it was not. The senator then followed this question up with the following: "So it's a sin?" 

After a further interruption, Professor Binchy said, "It is not right to end one's life, there are limits to what one can do. There are limits to autonomy. This is the point I'm making. There are limits, you have to be concerned for others." 

The senator interrupted the professor again and asked, "What's the concern for you if I die at the end of my life? How does it impact your life? You as a white privileged man, how does my death impact your life?" 

The clip does not include the conclusion of the comment by Senator Ruane, when she stated, "You won't think of me." 

Hundreds of social media users shared their thoughts after watching the clip - which has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on X - with one person describing Senator Ruane's behaviour as "boorish".

Another person stated, "I’m usually a fan of Lynn Ruane and her passion but it’s so misdirected here. It’s like she is interrogating a criminal. This is no way to have a conversation, period. Let alone a discussion at a committee meeting." 

A lecturer in public law at the University of Glasgow, Michael Foran, also commented on the interaction. 

He said, "This is genuinely shocking. Professor Binchy is one of the most respected Irish legal thinkers of the last century. I’ve seen parliamentary committees where witness have been disrespected before but never like this. It brings the entire Oireachtas into disrepute. What a shameful display." 

Academic Mary Ford Neal commented: "Really alarming behaviour. As an invited witness due to appear later this month, I now have serious misgivings about the integrity of the process and will be writing to express those concerns." 

This is genuinely shocking. Prof Binchy is one of the most respected Irish legal thinkers of the last century. I’ve seen parliamentary committees where witness have been disrespected before but never like this. It brings the entire Oireachtas into disrepute. What a shameful… https://t.co/W2pq4pE5ho

— Michael Foran (@michaelpforan) November 9, 2023

However, not everyone viewed the exchange in a negative manner. 

One X user stated, "Senator Lynn Ruane upsetting all the usual crew by taking no nonsense from a man who campaigned against divorce, marriage equality, abortion... Good on you Lynn" while another said, "Lynn Ruane is a national treasure." 

Committee Chair, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae, was criticised by some social media users for not intervening during the clipped exchange, however he does so several times in the extended video on Oireachtas TV. 

In the extended version, after assuring Professor Binchy he had the opportunity to speak uninterrupted, Deputy Healy-Rae intervened during a further interruption by Senator Ruane. 

The deputy said, "He's our guest here today, he's a witness, and I want to [sic]." 

Senator Ruane then told Deputy Healy-Rae to "advance the conversation then".  

Senator Rónán Mullen also made a remark about YouTube during the extended video, after which Senator Ruane said, "I don't actually put videos on YouTube, Ronan, so I'd appreciate if you started respecting my contribution. Just because you don't like it, you don't need to dismiss it." 

The Joint Committee on Assisted Dying was formed to consider and make recommendations for legislative and policy change relating to a statutory right to assist a person to end his or her life (assisted dying) and a statutory right to receive such assistance. 

Euthanasia and assisted suicide are currently illegal in Ireland.