Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran:

I have a very simple response. It is not about the issue of protection of the foetus per se. We have to really balance between the foetal and the maternal side. Let us suppose that for a condition very early on in pregnancy, in assessing a situation, medical or otherwise, if I believe that if I do not do the termination, she is going to go and procure an illegal termination and run into difficulties like that, I would take that responsibility and perform that abortion. However, if it is after foetal viability, then I will not go near the scene. I will assess the whole condition and do that.

This particular question about mortality, legality and ethical issues is asked of me from time to time. Everybody in this room is abortionist. Some support legal; those who do not support legal support illegal abortion. We are lucky in Ireland because they are able to go and get it done in England. Otherwise, can we imagine what will happen to the 4,800 women within Ireland? I would rest my case on that.