Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I had looked forward to hearing the contributions this afternoon because there was some genuine concerns raised with regard to how the process would be carried out differently in some of the smaller hospitals around the country versus some of the larger hospitals in our cities and in Dublin. The delegation addressed the matter but raised more concerns for me after two of the witnesses this afternoon addressed certain things. Dr. McCaffrey spoke about introducing a new medical procedure and by so doing said we would have to ensure that there was specific training provided. Dr. Monaghan talked about the difference between a surgical termination and a medical termination. Now I am confused.

The very clear message we got this afternoon from the three masters of the maternity hospitals who attended earlier was that this is about the protection of life of both the mother and, in all cases except the worst, of the life of the baby. In my head, surgical termination does not come into that equation. In my head, that is not the introduction of a new procedure into Ireland. It is doing something Dr. Monaghan says we are already doing on a weekly and monthly basis and something Dublin hospitals say they already do in terms of medical interventions anyway. Can Dr. Monaghan clarify for me if there is a variance in practice or in the perception of what the uniformity of practice might be, or is it the case that I am picking up what he is saying incorrectly and as something different from the determination of the three masters who spoke this afternoon as to how they see things panning out if the legislation is passed?