Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 146 makes provision for information that should be provided to a woman seeking an abortion in all cases except for emergencies. The woman herself decides what treatments or procedures she will have. She must be enabled to choose her treatment with full knowledge of the material facts. The Irish courts, as we know, have emphasised the distinction between elective and emergency procedures. The more elective the procedure, the greater the duty of care on the doctor to warn the patient of potential negative outcomes. It is clear most terminations of pregnancy, as defined in this Bill under section 13, will be elective procedures. The law requires that elective procedures require a high degree of disclosure. The doctor must provide information on benefits, risks and alternatives which will enable a woman to make the best decisions.

In May, the Tánaiste, Deputy Coveney, said he would support the abortion legislation where it allowed abortion for no reason up to 12 weeks. Those are his words. He made that clear after deliberating for some time.