Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Dr. Mahony argued strongly before this committee in January that greater clarity is required in the law governing the termination of pregnancy, and that all the heads of Bill do is simply quote verbatim the X case test without offering any assistance in interpreting this, including what constitutes a real and substantial risk. How does this provide the clarity she said was needed?

I ask all the witnesses how the proposed legislation currently stands if two psychiatrists rule that a woman needs an abortion. Would an obstetrician feel comfortable overruling their professional opinions? How is the role of the obstetrician envisaged in that type of scenario? If a woman presents in the 20th week of a pregnancy with twins, states she is suicidal and requests an abortion for one twin - what is described as a "selective reduction" in the UK - would doctors be willing to carry out such a termination? If two psychiatrists told a doctor to abort a child at 20 weeks' gestation, would it be done, or could the doctor request that the termination be delayed in order to give the child a better chance of survival?