Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will answer with the caveat that I am not a lawyer and I am not the Attorney General. The idea that the State should not be in conflict with the women who it wishes to help absolutely makes sense. What is the best mechanism to do that?

What if the liability rests with the laboratory? I know we might have privilege at this committee but I have no wish to say anything that poses any difficulty for any woman in her legal interactions. One idea is that there may be liability with a laboratory in some cases. The idea that we would help to support women in those cases rather than be in an adversarial situation is one the Government wants to realise. The Taoiseach has asked the Attorney General to work with the State Claims Agency and report back to Government. Instinctively, I believe the suggestion put forward by Senator Conway-Walsh is sensible. Whether it is workable legally is something we need to deal with.