Dr. Mary McCaffrey:

The Medical Council has its opinion, and I understand other presentations will be made which will put forward the view that a second signatory would not be required. The legislators and the Minister for Health will finally decide what we will have. If legislation and regulations are introduced which determine we need a second signatory then a process will have to be put in place for the smaller hospitals to allow this to happen. In my opinion it would be best provided through a panel of experts, a buddy system or peers whom we would be in a position to ring to obtain this second opinion. Systems such as e-mail or Skype could be used. It will have to be examined because women will continue to be delivered in smaller units and there is no reason why they cannot continue to do so.