Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I understand from where the Minister is coming. Although I would be very supportive in the future of prescribing midwives and clinical pharmacists being involved in the provision of service, Deputy Tóibín is correct that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment envisaged the provision of services being GP-led. However, if a review can be agreed upon, that provision of services by other healthcare practitioners could be considered at that stage. We are trying to provide access for women to termination of pregnancy services in the safest way possible. In order to embed the service initially and deliver it in a safe way, it would be preferable to deal with one group of medical professionals who are governed by the Irish Medical Council. Work on the guidelines is ongoing in partnership with the professional medical colleges. It would over-complicate the matter to involve other healthcare professionals in the provision of services at this time but that could be reconsidered in a review.