Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank both speakers. They are very articulate and impressive. I have a couple of questions for Professor Binchy. He said in his presentation that he wishes to give legal protection to the existing medical practice, and he outlined the evidence given to the committee yesterday. The Medical Council made it quite clear in its presentation that suicidal ideation is already part of its guidelines. The perinatal psychiatrists who appeared before the committee yesterday believe they are competent to deal with any such case that might present, although no case has yet come before them. Is Professor Binchy saying that the existing situation with regard to suicidal ideation as practised under the Medical Council guidelines by the perinatal psychiatrists is adequate or that it should be changed?

My understanding of the Medical Council guidelines - Professor Binchy can correct me if I am wrong because I could not get an answer from the Medical Council yesterday - is that from the fifth edition to the current seventh edition the circumstances have been extended regarding what would be acceptable under the ethical guidelines for a termination to take place.

Is that the case? There was a long discussion this morning on fatal foetal abnormalities. The case was made by witnesses this morning that under Article 40.3.3° of the Constitution, based on the Roche decision of the Supreme Court, that there is provision within the current legal interpretation to make provision for that without an amendment to the Constitution. What is the witnesses' view on that?