Dr. Máire Milner:

Deputy Flanagan asked about the delivery of babies at the margins of viability - 23 weeks - in the Dublin hospitals and the regional neo-natal intensive care units. I draw his attention to the submission made by our professional body - the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - which states:

We highlight the fact that enormous additional challenges to clinical management arise when termination is being considered in gestations approaching foetal viability but still extreme prematurity. In current practice, all efforts are exhausted within medical margins of safety to prolong the pregnancy in the foetal interest.

We are talking about where the mother's life is at risk. This is where the balance has to be achieved. Senator Spring-----