A row has erupted between members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Assisted Dying in advance of the publication of its final report tomorrow.
Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell has accused chair Michael Healy-Rae of undermining the report and claimed his position is now "untenable".
It has previously been reported that the main finding of the committee is for assisted dying to be legislated for in Ireland, something Mr Healy-Rae personally opposes.
In an email to committee members, Mr Healy-Rae said after the "formalities" of publication he will attend an event with Independent Senator Rónán Mullen.
He said this is to "present a set of minority recommendations on behalf of the three committee members who dissented from adoption of the final report".
The other committee member opposed to legislating for assisted dying is known to be Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy.
Senator Mullen said Mr Healy-Rae had been courteous in informing everyone by email of his intention to support the two other committee members who dissented from the final report.
He said Mr Healy-Rae was an elected member of the Oireachtas, who had both a voice and a vote, and it stood to reason that he should be able to speak his mind once the main report was published.
The Senator said it would be very strange for the chair of a committee to be muzzled in such circumstances.
He added that Mr Healy-Rae had been "scrupulously fair" in his handling of all Committee meetings.
However, Mr Healy-Rae's position has drawn a blistering response from Mr Farrell.
In an email seen by RTÉ News, he accuses Mr Healy-Rae of "seeking to undermine the credibility of the very report you shepherded through the difficult process we all ventured into, together".
Mr Farrell said: "Deputy Troy and Senator Mullen are perfectly entitled to express their personal views, which I expect, but as Cathaoirleach, to present the report without accepting the report, is untenable.
"I make no bones whatsoever for highlighting this, in advance of the report launch tomorrow," he added.
Sinn Féin's health spokesperson and committee member David Cullinane said: "The majority of the committee will publish its report tomorrow. It will recommend legislating for assisted dying in very limited and restricted circumstances and with appropriate safeguards. Sinn Féin supports such an approach."
However, he added: "We must be respectful of all views, including those who do not wish to legislate. Progressing legislation will need to be done carefully and with appropriate levels of scrutiny."
People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny, also a committee member, said: "What's important is the findings of the report and work of the committee over the past year."
He added there was "never going to be consensus on the issue" but the majority of members clearly recommended "legislative change".
Mr Healy-Rae said he will comment tomorrow on accusations that he has undermined the report and that his position is untenable.
