Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Suicide has been central to the debate. On one hand we have heard from eminent perinatal and other psychiatrists who have not come across a case in which abortion was indicated. It does not appear to be a medically indicating phenomenon. On the other hand, we have heard about the pressure on psychiatry. In the past we heard from people like Ann Furedi, from a British abortion provider, about the way in which mental health became the grounds for people without mental health challenges to obtain abortions in Britain. What is the witnesses' honest opinion on legislating for abortion on grounds of X, which many of us fear will open the gates or else is simply unjust in principle because it is not a medical response? What do they think it will lead to in terms of the numbers of abortions taking place on those grounds, to their best estimate?