Dr. Rhona Mahony:

The Senator's questions would be best put to the legal teams who will address the committee tomorrow. In relation to protection of the unborn, Article 43.3.3°, when a woman dies before her baby is viable, her baby will die too so that the concept of equal right to life in that context becomes a contradiction. On legislation, we need to look at removing the criminality in this country surrounding termination of pregnancy, particularly when it pertains to saving women's lives. We need to be very clear that we can save women's lives without fear of being put in prison.

This is not about legislating for broad termination of pregnancy across a broad degree of category, but about protecting doctors to save and protect women's lives.