Dr. Peter Boylan:

Yes, I think it would be impossible to legislate for every individual circumstance. Life is untidy and so I do not believe we can legislate for every particular circumstance in human life – that is simply not possible. I think it should be a decision between the mother – the woman herself – and her care-giver, whether a doctor, nurse, midwife or whoever. That is the right environment to make that decision because of the inherent variation from one individual's circumstances to another. I do not think we can legislate for it.

Deputy O'Brien asked about guidelines. The more we can direct guidelines to the decision being a case of one between the patient and the doctor, the better. I also think that we should absolutely repeal the eighth, but not put anything else in the Constitution. Legislation is the place to deal with this.