James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Durkan was supportive. Deputy Shortall made points that were well dealt with by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter and the Minister of State, Deputy White.

Deputy Bannon asked about markers. There are no biochemical markers in respect of the mental health issue of suicide and risk thereof. There are no control trials per se.

Does the name reflect the reality of the Bill? I believe it does and have already discussed this. This is the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill - the life of the mother and the life of the unborn.

Deputy Phelan raised gestational limits, which we have covered.

It must be stated, as was done by the Minister of State, Deputy White, that the Attorney General is the legal officer of the Government. She is a person for whom I have the height of respect, who does unstinting, Trojan work on behalf of the Government and gives an astonishing service. She is always available whenever a legal opinion is required and has done extraordinary work in answering questions from many Deputies.

Deputy Healy has some reservations about the decision to continue the session tonight. I put it to him that the House has voted so to continue.

For a doctor it is not unusual to be up late at night and not unusual to be considering serious matters. I do not think the people in this House are any less able than we are in that. I cannot accept these amendments. Those who proposed amendments will have a chance to come back to them for two minutes each, according to the Chair's rules.

I would prefer if we did not lose the focus on this, so I will paraphrase my good colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. This Bill aims to provide clarity for the women of this country about the services that are available to them and how to access those services, because that was at the core of the A, B and C judgment - there was no clear access and no clarity about how women were to exercise their right. It clarifies for the medical and nursing professions what they are legally obliged to provide and what is legal. Without a shadow of a doubt this does not change the law, but I do hope it changes practice in so far as it improves it by giving all concerned much more certainty about the needs of women and what is legal and should be provided.

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