Dr. Bernie McCabe:

I repeat that what seems to be intuitively correct may not be so. In the past we have had debriefings for people who were involved in crises en masse, which has proven to be damaging. It looked good and sounded right but it was damaging. We now offer that service to people who want it. If we offer abortion when we know there is no evidence base, we are not being fair, right or just to our patients. Our patients deserve that we be just.

The members are asking us why we are not offering these people these things: because it is not the right thing to do. We do not have the evidence base. Do the members want to receive a treatment that is not evidence-based, that has not been proven? I would not think so. I think that is okay; I am happy to go along with it. I will wait for the evidence. It may come.

The question about a pathway to services is a bit unfair. In fairness, services differ across the country. Efforts are being made to regularise those services and I again compliment the junior Minister for Health on her efforts in that regard.