Dr. Tony Holohan:

In the case cited by Deputy Catherine Byrne, a pregnant woman presenting in that situation will be treated exactly as she is at the moment. Women are likely to present to psychiatrists expressing suicidal ideation in pregnancy and they are cared for as things currently stand. Nothing in this legislation will change that or the duty of care of the doctors who attend these women. This legislation will have no implications for such cases.

On the suicidal process, I outlined earlier what I believe the process is likely to be. I gave a picture of what a routine scenario might be of how someone goes about accessing a service if they believe themselves to require a termination as a result of suicidal ideation.

Head 1 on the reasonable opinion makes specific emphasis on the whole question of the requirement to also assess the right to life of the pregnant woman. The reason we are here in the first instance is because of the real and substantial risk to the life of the mother. By definition, there is consultation taking place with the woman because we would not be in this situation unless there was consultation-----