Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the panel. I agree with Choice Ireland on several points such as how dangerous the back-street clinics are for women and the pills that are not regulated that should be outlawed. However, what struck me today following three days of hearings is the danger of making decisions about legislating for X on the grounds of suicide in the narrow medical context only. It is absolutely vital that we look at the woman holistically. We must not just look at her medical condition but her social, family and relationship contexts, including her emotional and mental health. Does Choice Ireland agree with this and is it happy that Ireland will continue to retain a restrictive abortion regime?

I was disappointed with some of the claims made on the website of the National Women's Council of Ireland. It is a very high-profile organisation. First, it claims to be the voice of the women of Ireland which I dispute. Doing an arbitrary check among Members present, I note none of us is a member of the council. Second, the council claims that the recent high-profile death in Galway - which I will not name-----