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

I wish to make one point about the valid point made by Deputy Ó Caoláin. I can see where the Minister is coming from. As public representatives, we all attend oral hearings with the Department of Social Protection or whatever in order to assist constituents. Officialdom can be daunting and, in this case, one would be faced with three highly qualified consultants. I wish to make a suggestion that could partly meet Deputy Ó Caoláin's concerns. I suggest that the last line of section 14(1) be amended to read "to hear the woman and-or a person acting on her behalf". That would allow the woman and another person, who could be her GP or whoever, to advocate on her behalf at the hearing.