Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their submissions, which have been very informative and helpful, certainly to me. I wish to address a number of issues. I would like to have clarification on the probability of real and substantial risk to the life of the mother. While we can all understand an immediate situation, is there a situation in which the life of the mother might be at serious risk in six months, 12 months or two years?

The question of local units and emergencies was raised earlier with the Medical Council and was probably not dealt with effectively, in my view. Dr. McCaffrey's submission suggested that the local units would deal only with emergencies and any other issues would be dealt with in tertiary centres such as Dublin, Cork or Galway. Is that what Dr. McCaffrey is suggesting?

With regard to emergencies, the Medical Council suggested no particular special procedures were necessary. What are the witnesses' views on that?

With regard to conscientious objection, the expert report suggested what while there is a necessity for conscientious objection, it is not always absolute. Do I take it from what people have said that this refers specifically to emergency cases?