Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome that the terms of reference for the review are now available. My first question relates to fatal foetal abnormality. One of the reports we have received sets out that half of the foetal medicine specialists have expressed uncertainty regarding a diagnosis being deemed fatal, given it depends on an individual's definition of what is fatal. Will the review examine that issue?

The review will take some time and it might be this time next year before we have finality in respect of it. If, during the course of the review, it is identified that an interpretation in one hospital is totally different from that in another hospital, will any action be taken in the intervening period before the final review is published and before whatever action the Department will take after it has been published? I raise this question for a specific reason. What is the Minister's view on it?