The Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying has heard powerful video testimony from a man who has since died from motor neurone disease.
In a video recorded before he died, Brendan Clarke said he was perfectly fine ten months previously, but was now in a wheelchair.
He said that he hopes politicians make "the right decision" to give people like him the chance to end their life if they wish.
"It's very difficult to live this life, it's not a life I want to live. I would appreciate that at some stage ... that you might legislate to give people like me, I won't be around by then, to have the chance if they want to, to avail of assisted dying," Mr Clarke said.
In the video played to the committee today, Mr Clarke said it was not an easy decision to make, but he said he could not live with his current condition.
"I cannot live like this. It's not a life I want to live so I just hope that in all committee meetings ... that you will make the right decision for people like me," he said.
Mr Clarke died before he could come in person to speak to the committee, but instead sent in a video submission.
Committee chair Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae said Mr Clarke gave "very, very powerful engagement" to the committee and he said he was very grateful to Mr Clarke and his family.
Mr Clarke's niece, Sarah, also appeared on the video, where she said her uncle had always been so full of life and lived a big and wild life.
"I can't see how we could not have supported you when you make this decision because you've always known your mind," she said.
The committee also heard from Emer Maguire, a representative of Hope Ireland, which advocates against the introduction of assisted suicide and euthanasia, which it said would be a regressive step for vulnerable people.
She spoke of her uncle who suffered with mental health difficulties and chose to end his life through euthanasia in Switzerland in September.
Ms Maguire said there was no dignity for her family and they were left waiting for his ashes for 18 days.
She said her uncle disappeared and later his sister received a call from a representative of Exit International UK, who told her that he had died by euthanasia in Switzerland.
Independent Senator Rónán Mullen said Ms Maguire's family had been left out of the picture and he said it was never just an individual choice, and others were also affected.
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