Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support amendments Nos. 22, 25 and 27, in particular. I remind the Minister about the repugnant dilemma which the psychiatrists and obstetricians stated will arise where they will be obliged to deal with a woman who, in the context of section 9, is suicidal and who has been pregnant for fewer than 12 weeks, more than 12 weeks or up to 20 weeks. If the woman has been pregnant for fewer than 12 weeks, the outcome will be certain death for the baby. If she has been pregnant for approximately 20 weeks, the outcome will be almost certain injury if not destruction. These aspects are repugnant to the ideals and objectives of the medical profession as it is practised.

Gestational time limits should of course be brought into the equation if there is to be any proper and just application of what is a very unsatisfactory Bill. I invite the Taoiseach, the Ministers present, the Cabinet in general and all others involved to consider what Deputy Shortall said about the alternative put forward by Professor Gerry Whyte, who is a constitutional lawyer. In the context of what Deputy Durkan said, in the X case the gestational maturity of the baby that was lost through miscarriage rather than by means of abortion was 12 weeks.

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