Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I have three questions. My first question is to Ms Blackwell and Dr. Eogan. Mr. O'Malley outlined a number of potential options for how verification of pregnancies arising from rape could work such as self-declaration, formal criminal proceedings, a special form of expedited adjudication process, police reports, medical reports, or a prosecutor's certification. As service providers, could they comment on the feasibility of these options and how they would interact with their processes for providing care for women?

My second question is to Dr. Eogan. She outlined three options in her presentation that she offers to women who wish to access care. Options two and three allow women to receive care without reporting the incident to An Garda Síochána if aged over 18. If we were to legislate for the involvement of the criminal justice system in assessing access to abortion on ground of rape, would this impact on her ability to dispense care without involving the Garda?

My final question is to Mr. O'Malley. He stated in his presentation that in later term pregnancies arising from rape, a balancing of competing interests between the woman and the unborn child is at stake and a legal adjudication may, therefore, be required to judge these interests. However, if the eighth amendment was repealed and the explicit right to life of the unborn removed from the Constitution, would that balance of competing interests continue to exist in the same manner as he has articulated?