Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The witness is very welcome, and her answers have been extremely informative. As Deputy Daly has pointed out, there are of course thousands of women in this State who owe a debt of gratitude for the provision of services that we simply cannot access in this State.

The witness is saying, on the issue of the provision of abortion pills, that the absolute best scenario is that treatment is delivered as close to home as possible for the woman herself. Speaking practically, the necessary pills could be provided by a nurse; there would not need to be any level of specialist skills. A GP could do it. One need not work in the area of obstetrics-gynaecology. Is that the case?

On the issue of conscientious objection, the witness referred to work that she had carried out in the United States where she provided a full range of health care. The master of one of our maternity hospitals was very clear about what a full range of health care is for women. In the facility where the witness provided that health care was there accommodation made for a person who might have a conscientious objection? The issue is often raised by people. I am sure that accommodation can be made, but I would like the benefit of the witness's experience.