Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Dr. Coulter Smith has mentioned that one in 500,000 pregnant women in Britain commit suicide. Does he have the statistic for the number of pregnant women who present with suicidal ideation in Britain? Does the one in 500,000 figure relate to recent years? How long has this statistic been in the public domain? It is difficult to obtain information in this regard.

I wish to raise two issues with Dr. Mahony. I noted in her speech that she welcomed the legislation and regulation, but will she clarify her mention of legal protection? Is this as opposed to the clarity of procedure that she requires of the legislation? Can legislation and regulation provide greater clarity of procedure than the current Medical Council guidelines? Have those guidelines prevented her from saving a mother's life? If so, how? I noted that Dr. Mahony is a member of the executive of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Has that institute sought a change to the guidelines in recent years?