Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Chairman on chairing today's proceedings efficiently and I welcome the witnesses. Will every effort be made to save the baby's life in every case where a pregnancy is terminated post-viability? In the case of suicide, do the witnesses think there should be a possibility of a review on behalf of the unborn of a decision to certify an abortion under head 4? If, under the provisions of head 4, a termination was to be performed at 23 weeks, would the witnesses refer the case to one of the large Dublin hospital where the baby would have a better chance of survival or do they anticipate or expect that their hospitals would deal with the case? If two consultant psychiatrists agree that a patient is suicidal and that this constitutes a real and substantial risk to her life, which can only be averted by the termination of her pregnancy, could they envisage any situation in which they would disagree with them?