Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will deal with amendment Nos. 7 and 10 and Deputy Billy Kelleher will deal with amendments Nos. 27, 31 and 45. Amendment No. 7 seeks to make absolutely clear that good faith must be informed good faith. The person making the decision must do so in light of clinical research and medical knowledge. It is not a question of good faith but informed good faith in terms of best practice in modern medicine.

Amendment No. 10 relates to the issue that has been addressed, namely, trying to ensure we safeguard the life of the child once born and to make every reasonable and practicable effort to sustain its life after delivery. Section 5 refers to other treatments that have an equal effect but do not result in the death of the unborn, in which case those treatments must take preference. People have been postulating that medical treatment may be more effective in treating suicidal ideation than abortion, which many psychiatrists believe is not a treatment at all. The person presenting may not have any obligation, nor does the doctor, to take that into consideration in making the decision. It seems reasonable to me that if the doctor believes there is a better treatment, which does not result in the loss of the life of the unborn, the doctor cannot then say that he or she will not bother with the treatment and will recommend abortion. We must be absolutely clear that all other treatments must get preference, allowing that they are effective treatments, for someone who has suicidal ideation.