Dr. Sam Coulter-Smith:

I said in my statement that it may lead to an increased number of requests for termination of pregnancy in this country. The reason I say that is I do not have any understanding - I do not think anybody has any understanding - of the numbers that could try to avail of the service in this country if it is passed into legislation. Currently, approximately 5,000 women a year and probably more go from Ireland to the UK for termination of pregnancy. They never cross the threshold of our maternity services. We do not know who they are and we do not have any understanding of the issues they have. Some of them are crisis pregnancies and some are a result of rape and incest. It is unfortunate that those areas are not covered in this legislation but that is a conversation for another day. Because we do not know who these women are and what their issues are, we do not know how many of them may try to use this legislation to get a termination in this country. If they do, then the point I was making is that we do not have the infrastructure, resources or the staff available to deal with that issue if it arises.