Lynn Ruane (Independent)
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I thank both witnesses for their presentations today which I found very informative and useful. I join with my colleagues in commenting on some of the language that has been used here today. One comment in particular I found very offensive as a woman and as a mother; it was to make the assertion that a woman would practically arrive for her 20 week scan, find out the gender and say: "Ah no, it's a girl. I wanted a boy." It is a ridiculous and absurd view to have of women. I found it very offensive. I would just like to put that on the record. Members should research and come in here educated on the reasons women have abortions before they make comments like that.

I have two questions. One of them is based on the conversations today about rights of the unborn and of the child. Could the witnesses make a distinction and provide a little background on the right to life of a foetus, if there is any, and how they do or do not equate to a woman as a holder of human rights?

We may as a society place value on the foetus, and place value on access to foetal development, care and health if a woman is to proceed with a pregnancy, but that does not translate into human rights and equate to the same rights as the woman. Perhaps the witnesses will elaborate on that.

Professor Mullally said the committee needs to include the development of a legislative and regulatory framework that provides for access to abortion for a list of reasons but, in practice, we are all aware of the many practical issues that arise when trying to allow for abortion in certain limited circumstances. How would she respond to the assertion that the only way for Ireland to fulfil its international obligations in this respect is to allow for terminations in early pregnancy on request? To meet our obligations, we would have to allow not only for these circumstances, but for abortion up to 12 weeks on request.