Professor Veronica O'Keane:

Deputy Terence Flanagan indicated that some questions had not been answered and requested that some of his questions be answered. I am afraid I did not catch several of the Deputy's questions. He asked what we would do in the case of a woman who refused treatment and hung on, as it were, for an abortion. We would act in the same manner as we act in respect of all individuals who refuse treatment. If a person is refusing treatment in the context of a serious mental illness and we believe he or she requires this treatment, we would involuntary detain the individual in question and, if possible, give him or her the treatment we believe he or she requires. If, on the other hand, the person did not have a mental illness, as a free citizen it is entirely his or her right to refuse psychiatric treatment.

Another point was raised regarding the system being open to abuse. I cannot emphasise enough that we, the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, the Irish College of General Practitioners and the Medical Council, have come before the committee to help legislators bring in a law that will be effective and accessible to women. No one, as far as I know, has come before the committee to break the law. We want to co-operate. We do not want to abuse the law or help individuals we may be seeing to abuse the law. It is the individuals who do not agree with the legislation who are objecting to the law.

I am at one with Deputy Mathews in wanting to have a good and ethical society. I believe that providing for the protection of women's lives during pregnancy is providing for a good and ethical society.