Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the witnesses for coming in here today. I am familiar with some of them from many meetings of the health committee. I am a firm believer in prevention being better than cure. Looking at the report on folic acid as a preventive measure against birth defects in Ireland, for example, I note we actually have an increase in neural tube defects in this country. Such defects encompass spina bifida, though I do not need to tell Dr. Holohan that, of course, and many other things that might sometimes be classed as fatal foetal abnormalities. It looks like we are an outlier with regard to European standards and I am quite concerned by that. From what I have read, the rate seems to be increasing disproportionately in Ireland. The report contained options for the prevention of neural tube defects in Ireland. How are we getting on with that? I would like to see folic acid, a very safe and cheap B vitamin, being more readily available than it is currently on the GMS scheme. Many pregnancies, though not necessarily a crisis, are unplanned and from my own work as a community pharmacist, I am aware there is a huge amount of ignorance around folic acid. I have spoken before about people just using up the vitamins that are in the cupboard and then not getting around to buying a packet of folic acid until week 14 or so. Could the witnesses speak about this and about what we are doing in this area? If we can try to prevent neural tube defects we will then have healthier babies and ultimately fewer terminations. That is what we are all about here.

My second question arises from a point in Dr. Holohan's presentation about the medical professionals involved in the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 being on the specialist register. Looking at international examples, my view would be that one would not need to be a specialist in the provision of medical abortion and that some of this could be done through the GP and the pharmacy. Thinking forward and assuming that the eighth amendment might be repealed, perhaps Dr. Holohan could offer this committee some advice on this matter in order that we do not end in a situation where we need 15 doctors and three psychiatrists for a woman who is six weeks pregnant and looking for a termination. That would obviously be completely unworkable.

I would also like someone to comment on the current situation. Professor Veronica O'Keane, a professor of psychiatry, appeared before the committee and she spoke about her concern over patients with complex medical and psychiatric needs travelling abroad without their medical files or without a conversation. How does Dr. Holohan, as Chief Medical Officer, feel about this? Is there anything that we can do in the meantime, within our constitutional restrictions, to try to ease some of that pain? Is there anything we can do in the interim period before there is a referendum in this country? This is something about which I am quite concerned.

I was going to talk about contraception but I know that Deputy Bríd Smith-----