Dr. Peter Boylan:

If the eighth amendment is repealed, the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 still stands. Under that Act, the only indication for termination of pregnancy in this country is a risk to the life of the mother. That would stand. There would be no change in that respect. We would still have the most restrictive legislation in Europe. In regard to regulation and so on, as the Deputy correctly mentioned, regulation is the function of the Department of Health. It would regulate where the procedure could be done and so on. The Medical Council interprets medical ethics and provides guidelines for practising obstetricians. If we step outside those guidelines, we are subject to sanction by the Medical Council, which can, although rarely, result in the withdrawal of a right to practise in the country. That is how the system would work. Education and training would be the function of the Institute of Obstetricians an Gynaecologists.