Dr. Catherine Conlon:

Speaking as a social policy academic, we look at the procedures around policy-making and good policy-making practice. You should have an extensive evidence base, and consult with key stakeholders. The report recommended a multidisciplinary led decision-making process. You would expect movement to have been made on those. I reiterate concerns about the unit in the Department of Health. What is the staffing infrastructure of that unit? This area of abortion care is under the bioethics unit of the Department of Health. I am not sure what the resource attachment is to that unit, including whether or not there is a bioethicist. An important thing to look at is the capacity and staffing of that particular unit. If it were staffed more adequately or appropriately it might facilitate things moving on. I do not assume that the Department is willfully ignoring the research. It may be down to capacity there too.