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

What has been learned in the last three days must be incorporated into the Bill when it is published. Many issues have been raised on elements of the Bill and it is clear there are many areas where it must be strengthened.

There is no doubt that the one contentious issue is that of head 4 and suicide. Over the last three days of hearings, we have spoken in abstract on the issue of suicide and mental health but the reality is that suicide occurs in this society on a daily basis. The real issue of mental health and suicide should be a focus, with the necessary resources made available.

All of the expert witnesses who appeared before the joint committee on Friday and Monday referred to the need to provide adequate resources for maternity services. Investment is needed both in this area and in the provision of perinatal and psychiatric support for women who are pregnant. The concerns that have been raised in these hearings need to be addressed in the legislation. I hope that the one outcome of these proceedings will be that the Department of Health and the Oireachtas address the need to provide adequate resources to support women in pregnancy, irrespective of the decisions they or their clinicians must make.