Ms Marian ? Tuama:

I thank the Deputy for her question on the role that counselling should play. I think it is really useful for everybody. I would say that from my position. I am also conscious that I would never want somebody to feel they are being penalised because their route to parenthood was somewhat different. If somebody can get pregnant freely and easily, nobody checks on them and yet those who require assistance are checked up on. I would rather if this were framed for people as being a chance to get information. It is a space in which people can have those conversations and go through those things. People generally react more favourably to being spoken with rather than being told, "Well, we'll decide whether or not you can do this". There is a balancing of those things with counselling.