Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for all of their work. It is good to have this brought out into the open. The vast majority of people I come across do not realise this is happening, that there is a lack of services and women are still being forced to travel abroad.

Apart from all the other questions that have been asked, I have a couple more. On section 9, the risk to life or health, and section 10, the risk to life or health in an emergency, these grounds only provide a viable pathway for the majority of women who are unable to access abortion care within the 12-week limits. It may include victims of sexual violence, minors, people living in coercive relationships, migrants and those in direct provision, and who are unable to access a GP locally. The low number of abortions performed post 12 weeks under this section is notable. I take it from that that many are having to travel and are included in those figures. The figures provided by the review are remarkably comparable to the figures under the previous Act, which was very restrictive. The lack of clarity around that, according to the review, states that, "The subjective nature of interpretation, together with the prospect of criminal sanction and adverse media scrutiny, risks the practice of defensive medicine, which may lead to women being denied care in Ireland." However, the witnesses are only recommending that ministerial guidelines be devised to offer more clarity.