Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To clarify, these are the heads of the protection of life during pregnancy Bill, not the protection of maternal life Bill. I have the height of admiration for the medical profession in this country and across the globe. There are many places I would rather be than here but there is a duty upon me, as a legislator, to inform myself. In trying to get that information, if I come across as confrontational with witnesses, it is not the intention. We admire the work they do.

I agree with Dr. Boylan on head 19.

We probably should look again at that issue and the penalty. Notwithstanding that, I hear the term "the chill factor" used continually with regard to the criminal law. Broadly speaking, the concept of the criminal law is to have a chill factor, not a soothing factor. Also, with regard to the issue the witness raised about science and the origin of it, the State gets things wrong. There are many examples in this country of where the State got legislation and policy wrong. The State is not always right, as is evident from the many cases taken against it. In respect of the X case, the evidence from the psychiatrist was that in the forecasting of suicide there was a false positive in 97% of cases. That is important.

We must take all these factors into consideration when formulating legislation. This is probably the most important legislative measure I have had to vote on in my time in the House and I want to get it right. I compliment the witnesses. I particularly compliment Dr. Coulter-Smith because he has articulated in his document many of the concerns that were expressed to me by ordinary people, medical professionals, gynaecologists and doctors from all corners of the globe. It is really important that the concerns he has articulated are made known. I do not know if a gynaecologist has expressed them in public previously. We have received letters privately and seen letters in the newspapers but they might not have been expressed in a forum such as this. Given what Dr. Coulter-Smith has said regarding head 4, and he has obviously discussed it with his staff, does he anticipate a difficulty in the Rotunda Hospital with head 4 being implemented if the legislation is passed as it is, based on his knowledge of the staff currently serving there?