Dr. Gerard Burke:

The big issue is how much difference this legislation will make. It will make very little difference - hardly any - to the actual practice of medicine and obstetrics. The number of cases that will fall under this legislation will be tiny. The number of patients in our practice who are at risk of dying is relatively small. The number of those cases that are marginal from a decision-making perspective is really very small. When one starts bringing things like psychiatry into this issue, the number is absolutely minuscule. Most of us will never encounter this situation. I have been a doctor for over 30 years and I have never even heard of a case like this, other than the X case.

I was also asked about deliveries that take place at 23 weeks. The full range of very expensive services is wheeled out to try to save babies that are delivered at 22 weeks. I do not think any babies of that gestational age have survived in Ireland. We would try to save them.

Senator Bradford also asked whether there will be a change in practice. I do not think there will be - nothing significant, certainly.