Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

May I pick up from Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick's last question. If a woman does not have medical or mental health issues what advice can be given to her if she is suicidal or how should be treated or should she come under the category as provided for in head 4? I want to ask Professor Kevin Malone about comments made on Friday about bad science by Dr. Peter Boylan and Professor John Crown. Professor Kevin Malone stated in his written evidence that the field of clinical assessment of suicidality in psychiatry has not reached any kind of validity or reliability in relation to predicting suicide. How then can the legislation, which clearly states in regard to suicide intent that it can be the only mechanism for treating a person with suicidal ideation, be implemented based on the report he has given to the committee? What are the psychiatric clinical procedures for the assessment of suicidal risk? We were told this morning that an assessment can be made in two to three hours. Dr. Seán Ó Domhnaill said it is a subjective assessment but we were told here this morning by his own college that there are many clinical markers which are reliably used, while not absolute, to assess suicidal intent. His college is telling us one thing and he is telling us something different. Perhaps he will clarify that. Dr. Jacqueline Montwill made the point that women in this situation need help and support from psychiatrists but will they go to the psychiatrists if provision is not made in head 4 or some other head or will they not just travel to the UK? By going to the psychiatrists here, does it mean that more of those women will not have a termination and will see that pregnancy through?