Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind Members and witnesses that mobile telephones should be switched off. That applies to those in the Visitors' Gallery and to the media as well. Everyone is very welcome to the tenth and final session in a series of hearings that the committee has conducted over the past three days to discuss the implementation of the Government decision following the recent publication of the expert group report on matters relating to the A, B and C v. Ireland case. At each session the committee has heard thoughtful, considered and wise submissions and counsel from a wide variety of people dealing with a sensitive and complex issue. I thank all those who have participated in our hearings for their constructive and informative deliberations.

For clarity, I wish to set out again the background and intended role which these hearings play in this important discourse. We are here to discuss the implementation of the Government decision, following the recent publication of the report of the expert group on matters relating to the A, B and C v. Ireland case, by way of legislation and regulation within the parameters of our current constitutional provisions. The Government has stated that the aim of its actions in this matter is to ensure clarity and legal certainty in respect of processes to determine whether the termination of a pregnancy is permissible in cases in which there is a real and substantial risk to the life, as opposed to the health, of a woman as a result of that pregnancy. In doing so we must ensure we take full account of Article 40.3.3°.

Once again I thank all the members of the committee and hope that in this final session our process of engagement will continue in a calm, tolerant and respectful manner, allowing for the various opinions we will hear. With that in mind I welcome most sincerely from Choice Ireland, Ms Jacinta Fay and Ms Abigail Rooney, from the National Women's Council of Ireland, Ms Orla O'Connor and Ms Jacqueline Healy, and from Action on X, Ms Ailbhe Smyth and Ms Sinéad Kennedy. They are all very welcome to our meeting this afternoon.

Before we commence, I remind witnesses of the position regarding privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person or persons or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice or ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I ask permission from committee members to allow party spokespersons to address the committee briefly after our deliberations. Is that agreed? Agreed. I call Ms Abigail Rooney from Choice Ireland to begin.