Rónán Mullen (Independent)
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Sorry, that was not my question. The question, if I may, and if the Chairman is seeking to facilitate me, was whether the Medical Council could theoretically depart from the approach being taken by the Legislature and, as a matter of ethics, consider what was due to the unborn child, including but not confined to the question of a three-day waiting period. As a matter of fairness, I do not intend to respond in kind to what was said but I have participated in this forum in debates on orphan drugs and the controversial use of cannabis in medicine, and I do not know whether Deputy O'Connell was here when I asked particularly pertinent questions, which no one else here had asked, of the Minister for Health about the treatment of cervical cancer. I do not think I owe Deputy O'Connell or anyone else here any defence of my priorities. When it comes to life-and-death issues, however, I strongly defend my right to pay very close attention to matters that I believe could be particularly harmful. As for my use of the word "elective", again I believe I am on solid ground. I do not think I am being in any way disrespectful when one considers that one of the proposed heads of the legislation provides for abortion in circumstances where there is no reference to it being medically indicated. I do not understand how in ordinary parlance people could regard that as anything other than elective. Again, attacking me for simply trying to bring clarity to the discussion is, sadly, not without precedent here but inappropriate.