Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 10 January 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children

Implementation of Government Decision Following Expert Group Report into Matters Relating to A, B and C v. Ireland

10:30 am

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

I welcome all the witnesses and in particular Dr. Jones. I have two brief questions for him. The first concerns the current Medical Council guidelines. He made the point that those guidelines should be enhanced rather than introduce primary legislation. My understanding is that the past three editions of those guidelines have extended the circumstances for termination. On that basis, would we not then be facilitating a further extension of the grounds for termination in the future? Dr. Jones also makes the point that there should be a referendum to overturn the suicide aspect of the X case judgment. Dr. Jones can correct me if I am wrong but if that is the case should there also be a referendum to deal with the interpretation that the legal experts gave us yesterday, that Article 40.3.3°, based on the Roche case, allows for the termination of pregnancy where there is a fatal foetal abnormality?

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