Dr. Catherine Conlon:

My understanding is that the contract is there as a contract between providers consistent with the Act, as Ms O’Shea stated. It is the contractual space. One of the things GPs would say is that not having capacity pressures would allow them to opt in more. Normalisation of abortion as healthcare is the other thing. That is a cultural piece globally. There is the issue of lack of contestation and clarity. A big piece GPs have said is if their local hospital was an abortion-providing hospital, that would gives them greater certainty that they have a referral pathway. It is more a logistical and infrastructural piece to better resource and support and implement the service, rather than being an issue with the specific contract with GPs.