Imelda Henry (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses, particularly Rev. Jones from my own diocese. I will ask him two questions.

I listened to the master of the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, on Tuesday. She spoke very passionately about her job and her beliefs. She asked us to help all obstetricians in the country and to legislate to protect her in doing her job every day. She said she did not want to go to jail. What would the bishop say to any obstetrician in this country who feels that way and who is asking us to legislate to protect him or her?

I am quite surprised that the bishop feels we should have a referendum, to go back to the X case. Parents of a teenage daughter who has been raped and is pregnant and suicidal will have to make a decision about what they do. There is a difficulty with suicide as it is. Even with all the psychiatric help necessary, I know what my decision would be and what most parents would decide. I would like Reverend Jones to tell me what he would say to those parents.