Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The tragic events in Galway will never be forgotten by Savita's family, but we should respect her memory in how we use this case with regard to the issue we are debating tonight. I have dealt with women who have returned from the UK with complications of termination, and I have advised women on how they can get support to go to the United Kingdom. I worked in obstetrics and gynaecology as a junior doctor and I have seen how things can go dramatically wrong for patients in our hospitals. I do not believe anything is so black and white as is often painted here. This is an extremely complex and emotional matter and it is something we should discuss in a rational manner.

One of the best aspects of what has happened this week is how the middle ground in this country is participating in the debate. It is not being left to people who are labelled pro-life or pro-choice. People are realising that there are different circumstances in patients' lives and that we must legislate for them. It is clear that we must do something about it. We still have the safest hospitals in the world and people should not knock that. Our hospitals are fabulous for a pregnant woman; they look after patients brilliantly.

However, there is huge uncertainty about the legality of certain procedures for doctors and patients, and there is a need to deal with that conclusively and to make up our minds exactly what we wish to legislate for. There is much I would like to say about the Medical Council guidelines. They are very uncertain and ambiguous. There is a need for strong legislation on how doctors can work in these very complex cases. When we are discussing this in the next couple of months I ask Members to try to reach out to the vast majority of people and find out what they want, and not allow our judgment to be clouded by our strong personal views. That is the only way we can do the best for the citizens of this country. I urge people to participate in a very measured debate in the forthcoming weeks because I believe we have reached a point where ordinary men and women are taking part in this discussion in a rational way and they now expect us to act rationally.

I compliment the Minister, Deputy James Reilly, on acting in that manner. Let us all carry on like that.

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