Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The general proposition in section 22(1) is that it is an offence to intentionally destroy unborn human life. The rationale for section 22(4) is that if there was any doubt arising from subsections (1) to (3), inclusive, it might undermine sections 7 to 9, inclusive - in other words take from them in some way. It was necessary to insert subsection (4) to ensure there could be no doubt that what was being stated in subsection (1) did not negative sections 7 to 9, inclusive. That is the rationale for section 22(4)