Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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Dr. Fletcher's input was clear and helpful, which minimises our need to ask questions. A number of questions have been asked already but I wish to raise a few matters. The witness has given a good insight into how some or all of the Citizens' Assembly recommendations might be recommended. We can probably take it as a given that even if we did not implement some of them, new legislation will require that the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act will have to go. I wish to explore the decriminalisation issue. That is the only legislation on the Statute Book at present that criminalises abortion outside the narrow circumstances where there is a danger to a woman's life. It would be necessary to remove that legislation, therefore it is not legal or illegal. It is just there. The regulation of the abortion pill would be through normal health regulation of products in a pharmacy or how all of that is regulated for and administered by one's pharmacist, nurse, midwife or whatever. It is a little like the morning after pill. It would be part of the health service, not with conditions laid down in law. It is just a medical product that is licensed in Ireland. Could that be done in the context of getting rid of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act post-repeal?