James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Of course. I understand the intent and do not have a problem with it, but I have a concern regarding the wording. As Deputy Boyd Barrett commented, we cannot seem to be prescriptive to doctors or cannot be seen to direct them as to how to do their business. That is not a wise route to take.

In regard to the question on the guidelines, there will be guidelines and they will be published by the relevant colleges and institutes, the colleges of psychiatry, physicians, the institute of obstetrics and gynaecology, etc. The Medical Council will always be involved as well. On determinations, there is a notification process. I would like to clarify something here that may save us time later. The notifications I will receive on a monthly basis will be notifications that include the registration number of the doctor who performed the procedure and the registration numbers of the doctors who certified. Those numbers will not be published. They will be available to me, but they will not be published because that could lead to a witch hunt of those doctors.

The number of terminations will be published and the reason for them. This will not be the exact clinical reason, but the heading under which the termination occurred, whether it was a physical illness, an emergency physical illness or whether it was because of a risk from suicide. I must come back to this if members do not mind. Suicidal ideation has been mentioned numerous times and of course it is important in assessing the risk. However, it is the risk to the life of the mother from a suicidal intent that the psychiatrists must assess.