Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I suggest we work together on this section between now and Report Stage. There was a discussion earlier about the definition of "ending the life of a foetus", and the committee received medical correspondence today from 24 members of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, which has drawn up the clinical guidelines, to say that changing the wording would provide them with less clarity. I have committed to engaging with the institute before Report Stage, but at the moment the medical and legal advice I have received is that this is the language that provides the best clarity, not only for lawyers but also doctors. We will relocate the offences section, which I know has not been the substance of this conversation but which was an important part of the Second Stage debate. I will make available to the committee my officials and legal advisers to see if we can further explore the issue of offences before Report Stage. It is a delicate balance and we need to try to get it right.