Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are all in this together. I hope that by the time we pass the legislation, it will include a review clause. Including such a clause is prudent. We will have different views on the timeline for a review, but we are starting a service that has not been provided in this country before. We all know the legacy. From a patient safety perspective, it is essential that in establishing a new or expanded service we provide for the highest possible standard of care from its initiation.

There is very limited access to termination of pregnancy in this country, which overwhelmingly is delivered in the hospital setting by a consultant obstetrician, a highly experienced, qualified medical person. The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill does restrict the provision of the service to medical practitioners but on much expanded grounds. It also expands the definition of medical practitioners who may be involved to all those registered on the Medical Council's register of medical practitioners. Therefore, in the legislation we are expanding the range of doctors who may be involved.

From an international perspective, it is not an unusual requirement. In Europe France, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany require a doctor to be involved in carrying out the procedure, but the Deputy is correct, there are other countries where that is not the case. I do not disagree with her fundamental point that there are other countries where other healthcare professionals are involved. However, at this stage of the legislation and in trying to embed a service and ensure we will have adequate numbers of doctors signed-up to get it up and running, medical practitioners are the most appropriate personnel to deliver the service. Whereas in the future it may be possible to contemplate allowing termination of pregnancy services to be delivered by medical personnel other than medical practitioners, it is my considered view at this time that we are taking initial and significant steps towards expanding services and that the most appropriate personnel to deliver the service are medical practitioners. Where the Deputy and I differ is that the Deputy would like to give the Minister of the day the power to do this without recourse to the Oireachtas. I propose that the Minister of the day have the power, through the review clause which I hope will be passed by the committee later today. Therefore, I am not in a position to accept the amendments on this occasion.