Let’s talk about Assisted Dying

This is one of the festival's Pay What You Can events.

Why is Northern Ireland the only jurisdiction in the UK and Ireland not to have engaged in a dialogue around assisted dying? Regardless of your position on assisted dying, we’re confident you will agree that there is a democratic deficit when it comes to this issue.

That’s why we are inviting you to join us and engage fully in a respectful, evidence-based dialogue around the issue of introducing Assisted Dying legislation in Northern Ireland.

During our time together we will engage in a wide range of issues around assisted dying, including:

• Do the people of Northern Ireland want assisted dying legislation?
• What should be the criteria for an assisted death?
• How do we protect vulnerable people?
• How do we progress the dialogue?

During the event we will review the progress of Assisted Dying legislation in Ireland, the UK and worldwide. You will also hear from Involve UK on how convening a Citizens’ Assembly to take expert evidence and deliberate at length the complex issues surrounding assisted dying, could provide the Executive genuine policy direction.

Gavin Walker is Chair of My Death, My Decision (Northern Ireland) and has been advocating for a full respectful, evidence-based conversation around assisted dying for many years. He has invited a well-known - but more skeptical – guest to join him, and together they will engage with you fully as we discuss and navigate our way through what is recognized to be a sensitive subject.

By the conclusion of our time together, we will have a better understanding and respect for our different positions and hopefully agree that we must now challenge our MLAs on their silence around the issue of Assisted Dying as they prepare for the 2027 Assembly Elections.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas & Politics