Dr. Tony Holohan:

That is interesting because this kind of allows me to deal with a certain misunderstanding which might be out there as to what this legislation is likely to give rise to. As things stand, and without this legislation, a woman who expresses suicidal ideation and who is pregnant can attend a psychiatrist or an obstetrician seeking help and a decision or a determination can be made by those two individuals in consultation with one another that early delivery is necessary. That is already the situation. As things stand, we may well have - numbers of which I cannot answer - women who have earlier than otherwise would be necessary deliveries as a consequence of the expression of suicidal ideation. This legislation does not create that circumstance.

The Deputy's question relates to the disability that arises as a result of that. That is something that arises in the here and now, and the operation of the legislation will make that no more or no less prevalent than it might already be.