Ms Mary O'Toole:

Usually the children who come to court are in care. Parents will usually make a decision for their minor and will travel with them out of the jurisdiction to avail of services or else, now, will invoke the provisions of the Act to see if they qualify for an abortion in this jurisdiction. It is really children who are in care and adults who are vulnerable either because they do not have capacity to make decisions or they simply do not have the freedom to move out of the jurisdiction.