Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What I wanted to say, to assist Senator Mullen and the members of the committee, is that the people who work in the Rotunda and in the other maternity units are doing exceptional work. We should not allow them to be portrayed otherwise on the record of this committee. I previously chaired the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children and I must say that Dr. Mahony is a credible and excellent witness. On the six days of hearings that she appeared before that committee to discuss the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill, she was an extraordinary witness and never controversial or unhelpful to the committee or to the preparation of that legislation.

Dr. Mahony made a very good point about vulnerable women. Part of what we must do as a committee, even if we do nothing else, is to show particular support to the young vulnerable women to whom Dr. Mahony and others referred. What pathways of care and support can we offer there? What should we be doing outside of the work here on the eighth amendment? We can all agree that Ireland is a very safe place in which to have a baby. Professor Malone referred in the last paragraph of his presentation to the impact on resources in our maternity services if we were to change our current position. Could Professor Malone elaborate on this?