Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

With every word the witnesses said and every detail they disclosed here, I have to be honest, my heart was racing in my chest. I have not experienced what they have experienced. I can only thank them for taking what is nothing but trauma and transforming it into a fight for change. I cannot express my gratitude enough to them both and to those they represent.

I have one question only. They have both mentioned severe anomaly and the lack of discussion on it. If there has been a lack of discussion in this regard, perhaps this would be the best time to discuss that at some level in terms of what they feel should have been discussed. Perhaps they support women who have had a pregnancy which involved a severe anomaly. Maybe it is not the first time because we have spoken about multiple pregnancies resulting in the same thing and everything that brings, and how relative and individual the impact of a diagnosis is on every woman and also every family. We look at everything that has to be taken into account with severe anomalies, in terms of finances, whether there will be someone to care for the child when the parents become elderly and die, what happens to the child then if he or she has a severe disability, the impact and burden on the child's siblings, and if there is another child in the household with high needs. I do not know whether that is the type of discussion that Mr. Edwards was saying was lacking at the assembly but he may want to comment on that in general or add anything that he feels would be appropriate.