Dr. Berry Kiely:

It is interesting in that it demonstrates that while none is disagreeing about the management of women with life-threatening illnesses, there is disagreement on whether there is a need for legislation, a change to the current position. This reality is outside the ambit of this committee.

It is worth saying that we have very useful information on why Irish women go abroad for abortions. The Women and Crisis Pregnancy study, carried out by researchers in Trinity College at the behest of the then Minister for Health and Children, points overwhelmingly to social reasons as the reasons women go abroad for abortions. This is a challenge for the Government, which has a role to play in addressing some of those reasons.