The Irish Human Rights Commission is backing a claim by Marie Fleming that she has a right to assisted suicide.

The Commission is making submissions as a neutral 3rd party in the 59-year-old's appeal against the refusal by the High Court to relax the blanket ban on assisted suicide.

The former university lecturer is in the final stages of multiple sclerosis and wants to die with dignity at a time of her choosing.

The Irish Human Rights Commission has told her appeal that there is a right to assisted suicide subject to stringent conditions.

'Constitutional right to equality'

Questioned at length by several of the 7-judges hearing the case about a general right to suicide, barrister Frank Callanan said he did not want to impute policies to the Commission that it may not have.

The Commission made submissions in relation to the Constitutional right to equality as it applies to individuals in the circumstances of Marie Fleming, and also the right to autonomy and bodily integrity.

The Commission is critical of the High Court judgment last month against Marie Fleming.

Mr. Callanan says the court was unequivocal in its view that there is no way of facilitating assisted suicide and put itself in a false position by becoming an advocate for the current law.