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

My first question is for Dr. Mills and I call on him to don his medical hat for a moment. He made the point that he has dealt with several cases of women who required or went for a termination. Has he come across cases of women with suicidal intent during his professional career?

Dr. Mills made a point in his last contribution relating to fatal foetal abnormalities. Such cases involve babies who are born to suffer and die, even if only for several seconds. Given the evidence we heard here yesterday, is it not the case that vast majority of terminations are terminations by induction which lead to a premature birth? In such cases is there not suffering involved? Is it not the case that if there is medical intervention then there would be suffering involved?

My final question is for Ms Ciara Staunton and relates to suicide and the suicide test. She made the point that in the case of a pregnancy due to rape or incest suicidal risk could only be averted by the termination of the pregnancy. She made the point that there should not be a termination date beyond which an intervention could take place. What would happen in the case of a woman in that particular circumstance where the child was born and was viable beyond 23 weeks? Do we not need to put some legal clarity in place with regard to the guardianship of that particular child who would be unwanted by the mother who wanted a termination? How do we deal with that legal challenge?

Senator Colm Burke raised the issue of suicide. The perinatal consultants before the committee yesterday stated that they believed that two psychiatrists should sign off on the issue of suicide. What is the opinion of the witnesses in this regard?