Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We know the Supreme Court said that where there is a real and substantial threat to the life of a mother, it is legal for medical personnel from all disciplines - fire brigade officers, their executives, doctors, nurses and midwives, to do what needs to be done. We have heard also that where there is a threat or an intent of a distressed mother to be to take her own life, the answer is not a termination. What sort of word games are going on here? The last session answered that question and said that no matter what the Supreme Court said regarding the X case, which was a unique case in history, it will never be replicated. Every event in history is a unique event and therefore to legislate for a unique event that will not recur is logically absurd. What we are doing now is looking at real life situations within the constitutional framework of the value and sacredness of life from start to end to ensure we avoid issues such as euthanasia at the other end and abortion-----