Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the four obstetricians and thank them for their forthrightness. It is refreshing. We have been homing in on suicidality, which is an area of concern for many.

It is quite a subjective area. Could the witnesses comment on the recording of the data, under the heads of the Bill, which only goes to the Minister? We have asked this of other witnesses. It should be done in a manner that is crystal clear, so we know precisely why and in what circumstances it was the only treatment on offer, and this could be reviewed publicly. Will the witnesses give us information in that regard and whether that type of information, with the names retracted, should be available under freedom of information?

Dr. Mary McCaffrey mentioned the conscientious objection issue and, in particular, people opting out. That is a concern if people of a particular disposition exclude themselves from the panels. As we have seen in the media over many months, the medical profession have people on both sides of this argument so the outcomes could be skewed as a consequence. I wish to link that with the comments about the lack of resources which have been made by all the groups appearing before the committee. Resources often lead to shortcuts being taken. Therefore, while it might start in a very thorough fashion, as happened in other jurisdictions, that will change within a short space of time.

Dr. Máire Milner welcomed the Bill and said it gives clarity. Dr. Rhona Mahony also welcomed it for the same reason. However, when Deputy Creed put a question to her about identifying in the Bill where she got that clarity, she was unable to pinpoint the areas. Can Dr. Milner point to the sections in the heads of the Bill which give her the comfort of that clarity?