Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. We have made no proposal to overturn the constitutional protections for the unborn. Our role is not to make a decision but to facilitate the flow of information. Yesterday an eminent witness spoke about what he described as the discredited Supreme Court judgment and asserted that the process was flawed because no psychiatrist had been consulted. However, on Tuesday we were addressed by five of the most eminent consultant psychiatrists in Ireland, including the only three perinatal psychiatrists in the country. Although the law of the land by case law, as confirmed in the guidelines from the Medical Council, confirms the option for intervention in the event of the life of a woman being at risk due to suicidal intent, in the collective experience of these psychiatrists an intervention has never been undertaken in these circumstances. Why does Reverend Jones believe the Government's intention to progress what many view as confirmatory legislation will change that situation?

As Deputy Kelleher noted, the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference states in its submission: "We believe the option of a further constitutional referendum on this issue should not be ruled out." It was clear from Reverend Jones's oral contribution, however, that he would go further than ruling it out. I think he said he would commend such an option as reflecting the Catholic Church's view. I ask him to shed further light on that.

The limited time available to us unfortunately does not allow us to engage with each of the witnesses. I thank the Most Reverend Dr. Jackson for his contribution. The executive summary of his presentation specifically refers to the preservation of the life of the unborn without compromising the life of the woman at an advanced stage of pregnancy. He also notes that the women should be formally notified of a diagnosis. Is it correct to extrapolate that the women should not only be notified but also consulted in all of these positions?