Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Most of the questions have already been asked. I thank Mr. Thompson for attending to give evidence to the committee. During the course of the committee's work, I have been contacted by people on both sides of the debate and people in the middle of the debate. Clearly, we do not have consensus in the country as to how we should proceed. While I have seen no medical evidence to support this, it has been suggested that somehow having a termination puts a woman at greater risk of breast cancer. I do not know if any other members of the committee have been presented with this as though it is a fact. I cannot find any medical evidence to that effect. Has Mr. Thompson come across that? I am conscious that as a Member of Parliament I am here to represent my constituency and all the different views and ask the questions that have been asked of me. I am just asking that question as it has been presented to me.

If a child is born with a very severe or serious abnormality - whatever term one wants to use - does the child then experience pain having been delivered? Is it Mr. Thompson's medical view that it would be more humane not to deliver a child with serious difficulties or severe abnormalities?