Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The protection of life during pregnancy Bill is about saving women's lives. As I stated, the law on abortion is not being changed but in very specific circumstances, where there is a real and substantial threat to the life of the mother, a termination is permissible under the law. Each of those terminations that has happened here has been as a consequence of a real and substantial risk to a woman's life where a medical intervention was necessary to save her life. As I pointed out in the earlier reply to Deputy Adams, there is a requirement here to uphold to right to life of the unborn and, in so far as it is possible, to save the life of the unborn where these situations arise.

These proposals are very much in line with what the expert review group proposed. As Deputy Clare Daly will be aware, they also made the point, as was recognised in A, B and C v. Ireland, that the issue of suicide and suicidal intent is far more subjective than in the case of a physical risk where a emergency arises from a medical point of view. That is why a multidisciplinary team will be involved here and that is why in those cases, rare though they might be, there is an obstetrician and gynaecologist on that team who must speak, make a judgment and make a call for the protection of the life of the unborn.

It is very necessary in those cases, which are subjective, that there be qualified, experienced, multidisciplinary personnel-----

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