David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I understand that but the submission has not been released and if it has not been released, there is a problem. My point is we want to hear from all sides but when any organisation makes a submission it must not be defamatory as otherwise we cannot do our job. I wanted to make that point.

I move to the HSE submission. I have a number of points to make because the context is important here and some people will ask why we need this legislation. The HSE submission makes the reasons very clear because it refers to weekly, and sometimes monthly, anti-abortion protests outside maternity hospitals, mainly in Dublin, and also outside GP surgeries. It refers to the display of religious imagery and messages, graphic images of foetuses and, in some instances, physical and verbal aggression. No woman or person should be subject to any type of intimidation or physical or verbal aggression from anybody when entering a healthcare premises. The fact that this is happening on a weekly or monthly basis is unacceptable. The HSE submission also states some GPs are willing to provide the service but are concerned about potentially attracting protests. Again, that is a reason we need this legislation. It also refers to the potential for significant psychological impact on women. I think we can all agree that if women are subject to harassment and intimidation, it will have a psychological impact on them. The submission sets out very clearly why we need this legislation, as do the submissions from other organisations.

I have a number of questions on heads 4 and 6. Head 4 refers to "prohibited conduct". It seems to be the lesser of the charges. Persons convicted - it is a summary conviction - of an offence under what would be prohibited conduct in head 4 are liable to a class E fine for a first offence, a class D fine for a second offence and a class C fine for a third offence. What is "prohibited conduct" in the context of this head? Will the witnesses summarise that for the committee?