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

1:00 pm

Photo of Fidelma Healy EamesFidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the panel. There has been a missing voice in these hearings – the direct voice of the pregnant woman in crisis who has to face a real human dilemma. So far, we only have had secondary evidence. For that reason, I am very grateful to Dr. Seán Ó Domhnaill and Ms Breda O'Brien for going there as far as they can. Dr. Seán Ó Domhnaill described assisting a 19 year old suicidal woman post abortion. What does he believe is the best framework we can provide as legislators so that we can adequately help such women?

Does Ms Caroline Simons believe we have to legislate for suicide arising from the European Court of Human Rights request for clarification? I appreciate Ms Maria Steen giving to this presentation as the voice of an expectant mother. There is direct evidence here. The obstetricians have asked us for flexibility. Is Ms Maria Steen saying that the current medical guidelines are legally adequate to protect the mother's life and the doctor who said their primary reason is to preserve life?

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