Professor Veronica O'Keane:

They are the two studies that people who are opposed to abortion always quote, so it is very easy to predict. There are only two studies. In index No. 3 of my submission there is a document which has been written by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, supervised by the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health. This document looks at literature research which identified almost 9,000 references. The body was composed of individuals hailing from many different disciplines, including obstetricians, psychiatrists and physicians. The conclusions are laid out here. Very interestingly, the Coleman-Fergusson work is specifically cited as being unscientific and not meeting the standards of other work in the area. I am not trying to become the expert here, but I am simply letting the Deputy know that the Fergusson and Coleman work is not up to par. It is not evidence. The evidence is to the contrary, being that abortion does not damage a woman's mental health. I am very happy to send the Deputy more details about that because he seems to be misinformed.