Dr. John Monaghan:

I can assure members that was not my meaning, nor was it intended to be interpreted in that way.

In relation to the conscience matter, conscience has been under attack in the past five years or so in the medical literature. I have attached two articles on conscience to my submission - one hostile to and one supporting conscience. The Bill to be produced should recognise the importance of conscience rather than the importance of conscientious objection, on which I would be happy to answer questions.

In relation to head 19, it appears to be a significant endorsement of the constitutional position of the unborn in this country where it states it shall be an offence for a person to do any act with the intent to destroy unborn human life. I support this. As obstetricians would know, the problem in other jurisdictions is that children, or babies, are directly killed by injection or suction and evacuation of the uterus. I know that previous speakers have referred to this and said they do not see it happening in Ireland. Certainly, surgical termination, as it is called, is more dangerous than medical termination of pregnancy and the Act should specifically prevent doctors from killing a baby, where it is necessary for it to be delivered, directly before it is born, either by surgical means or lethal injection. I ask that this be specifically included in the Bill.