Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Maeve Doyle very much for raising serious issues around the legislation. We must examine specifically what she has raised today. I thank those witnesses who mentioned compassion. As a woman and a mother I really appreciate that.

Dr. McCarthy stated that all assessments must be individual, comprehensive, compassionate and not prejudged. He stated that he is the president of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland and a specialist in perinatal psychiatry. Does he foresee that some women will be prejudged by his profession if the Bill goes ahead?

It has been stated that there are 864 members in the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland. A recent survey was completed by approximately 130 members. I wonder why the other approximately 600 psychiatrists did not answer the survey. Was the survey widespread? In my ignorance I thought there were only approximately 130 psychiatrists in total.