Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In developing health policy, I presume the most effective approach would be to look at the needs, then to look at how the health system is organised to meet those needs and lastly to look at is the legislation which is in place. Is there any other aspect of women's health care where the first step is to look at the law which is in place, then at an examination of how the needs can be met within that law and then at how the system is organised to suit that? For instance, abortions or terminations are illegal here. All the evidence we have heard in this committee indicates that access to terminations is a vital part of a woman's health care. Is there any other area of women's health care where the law prevents the most effective health care from being provided to women?