Urgent Debates Declined — Voluntary Euthanasia—Legal Status

I have received a letter from David Seymour seeking to debate under Standing Order 389 the legal status of voluntary euthanasia, triggered by an application to the High Court for permission to access physician-assisted death. The matters set out in Mr Seymour’s letter do not constitute a particular case of recent occurrence for which there is ministerial responsibility. The proceeding in the High Court commenced in March. There is no ministerial responsibility for a decision of the court or the public interest in debating euthanasia. Because the application does not meet the criteria for an urgent debate as set out in Standing Order 389, it is therefore declined.