Dr. Peter Boylan:

Again, it is important to take into consideration that this is not about the doctor; this is about the woman, her ongoing pregnancy and her views, which have to be taken into account. While we do not park our ethical beliefs at the door and we certainly carry them with us, we have to respect what the women's views are. I think it is true to say that there is a wide range of ethical views on the acceptance of abortion in different circumstances right across the board. For some people, it is totally unacceptable in any circumstances whatsoever, even if the woman is going to die. Others would have a much more liberal approach where they are happy to provide abortion services under any circumstances whatsoever, and there is everything in between.

I believe that every person's viewpoint has to be respected. If termination is introduced into Ireland and legalised, there will be facilities for people who are uncomfortable with whatever the circumstances of the termination of pregnancy are. For example, there will be some physicians who are comfortable with termination for pregnancies where the baby has little or no hope of survival and there will be others who are uncomfortable with that. Other clinicians will be comfortable with termination of pregnancy for whatever reason; there will be others who would resist that. The full range of ethical positions and personal opinions is out there but the most important person in all of this, of course, is the woman who is pregnant. It is her concerns we must address.