Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their work over a relatively short time. I welcome the report. I have some questions on which I would like clarification. I come to the table as one who was on the original committee and I see some of my colleagues from that committee here today.

On the operability of the Act, it was foreseen that it would be necessary to see how the Act operated and whether the services were provided in the order and to the extent they were anticipated. It would appear that they were not for a number of reasons, including conscientious objections and the three-day waiting rule. Some of the reasons I accept and others I do not, given that I have been involved in this from the outset. I would like some elaboration on the cases of women who present to their GP before their pregnancy has exceeded 12 weeks but timed out as a result of the health system being unable to provide a service in the prescribed time.