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

The amendment represents a radical change to the Bill which is not acceptable. It is important to bear in mind that the treating team is under an explicit statutory duty to have regard to the need to preserve unborn human life as far as practicable. The Bill requires the treating team to have regard to the right to life of both the woman and the unborn in accordance with Article 40.3.3° of the Constitution. The review committee is under the same obligation.

The composition of the medical team set forth in sections 7 and 9 was arrived at in order to ensure that it included appropriate expertise that would be in a position to assess the viability of the foetus and thus discharge this core duty. Specifically, each team must include an obstetrician, who can give expert input to the other doctors. The question as to whether a woman requires a termination of pregnancy to avert a real and substantial risk to her life is a medical question which must be resolved by medical practitioners who are obliged to respect the equal right to life of both woman and the unborn in the manner set out in the Bill.