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

In the same vein, I think it is unworkable. It was never the intention of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution and while I may be incorrect, I never heard it suggested, that it would be the same doctor when discussing wait periods and such. From the advice I have been given, it is unworkable in a practical sense. I know there are issues with one doctor certifying a patient and another doctor carrying out a procedure based on that certification. Fundamental to being a registered medical professional, whether a pharmacist or doctor, is that one is in charge of one's own decision at that time. It is not as simple to change it in the way Deputy Donnelly is suggesting but it needs to be addressed in a practical way that is workable for doctors and women. We want to make sure that in any case where there is double certification or complications that we do not end up with women stacking up with three-day waits or being told that it has been three days but they are not certified, so they are really on day zero. We have to work through that. I agree with Deputies Kelly and Donnelly but we need to work on it before Report Stage.