Dr. Mary McCaffrey:

I thank Senator Walsh. Ironically, I thought about conscientious objection before I came to the committee today, and how the panels would be put together. As I understand it, the personnel who will go onto the panels will be nominated by the various institutes. Obviously, that will be the role of the institute, and it would be nice if there was a balanced approach as to who was on the panels. That would be important.

With regard to the possibility of a baby surviving because he or she was born on the cusp of viability, in the three Dublin maternity hospitals as well as Limerick and Drogheda there are neonatal units on-site. We would be mindful in smaller units that if a woman's pregnancy was going to end in that scenario she would be transferred to a place where full neonatal facilities were available for a baby that could possibly survive outside the womb.

I want to be quite clear about something which has not been said. It is illegal for a doctor in this country to refer anyone to anywhere for termination of pregnancy. It is almost unfair to ask us whether we have referred patients because-----