Ms Caroline Simons:

If one looks at what I have said in my statement, it is to the effect that abortion has never been shown to be an appropriate treatment and it is not prescribed for complications of pregnancy in which the psychiatrists who have expressed opinions have expertise. In response to Deputy Ó Caoláin, I believe this still to be the case. The evidence that has been given on how the psychiatrists now are feeling about their participation in the certification process, in particular over the past day, has given greater substance to this point. I was particularly interested when listening to the testimony from both the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland and Professor Veronica O'Keane yesterday. Professor O'Keane described the function of the psychiatrist as quite simply being a certification function and that it was not anything to do with treating suicidality. She stated, in respect of the legislation, that psychiatrists will assess risk and will certify eligibility or otherwise, but it is the woman, not the psychiatrists, who is requesting the treatment. The psychiatrist is only determining eligibility and, therefore, psychiatrists do not treat suicidal intent with abortion. A woman chooses this treatment for herself.