Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not wish to cut across anybody. In relation to the GP-led service, I have no major difficulty with including a reference to a medical doctor but the reason the motion is drafted in this way is in recognition and acceptance of the fact that people are ordering medical abortion pills online. As Deputy Kelleher stated, they are being delivered by An Post in this jurisdiction. That is happening and the evidence we have is that this could pose a risk to the life or health of the woman who is taking it and who, because of the current legal status, may be afraid to seek help if it is needed. By making it a GP-led service there will be medical oversight by qualified persons, which we are not. I am not a qualified person so I am reluctant to stray too far into the medical aspects of the issue. It is a matter for the Minister for Health to prepare legislation and for the consultants and doctors working in this area to deal with that in more detail. The reason we use the phrase "without restriction as to reason" is that we have issues around rape and incest and other such complexities. Perhaps it is possible to legislate but it would be extremely difficult. I tend to think it is almost impossible to legislate based on the evidence that has been put before the committee.

The reason we say "up to a limit of 12 weeks" is based on the evidence that was given to the committee and I went on to the Women on Web website where it states that it is available up to 12 weeks. I assume that what is on the website is put up there by the doctors running it. I have no difficulty in adding in "medical doctor" but the idea is that it would be a localised service done by a GP.