Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, the lack of a defined time period is the issue. We are all trying to get to the same place but are coming at it from different directions. We are all trying to make sure that doctors are empowered to know what they can and cannot do. My approach to this is that it is of greater assistance to doctors if they know the time period. In terms of the difference between 28 days and 29 days, as was mentioned by someone earlier, these are not exact sciences but are personal tragedies. That is why we are saying, "in your reasonable opinion", knowing that we are talking about people who make these clinical calls already on a daily basis. I should point out that these are doctors who are not unfamiliar with making these calls today. The only difference is that today they are referring people to Liverpool. They are making the calls, making the diagnoses and having these conversations already. They are genuinely familiar with the time periods and with the concept of a fatal foetal abnormality and with the neonatal period. The only difference under this legislation is that they will be able to then provide the service here rather than abroad. In that sense, it is not a new departure for them, in terms of the diagnosis piece and the conversations with families piece. It is the service piece that is new. I am more than happy to engage on it further and I am not being stubborn for any reason other than my concern that if we take it out, we could accidentally cause a lack of clarity rather than what Deputies Donnelly, Bríd Smith and Clare Daly and others want to do, which is to assist doctors. That is not the feedback I have been getting.