Dáil debates

Thursday, 11 July 2013

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed)

 

7:05 am

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will try to avoid duplicating the points made by other speakers because I agree with most of them. We are discussing an exceptional situation involving very small numbers, given the restrictive nature of the legislation. There are already onerous obligations in terms of putting together a panel, but the community of clinicians involved is small and will probably be self-selecting within regions. This will happen in the context of an emergency arising from medical problems or where a woman feelis suicidal. We must visualise such an emergency if we are to consider how these provisions will operate in practice.

I have tabled a number of amendments jointly with Deputies Richard Boyd Barrett, Joe Higgins and Seamus Healy. Amendments Nos. 44 to 46, inclusive, propose to insert the word "forthwith". Amendment No. 96 would require the review panel to establish a committee of review and make the relevant decision in one day rather than three. It would also require the committee to complete the review within three days as opposed to seven. That is not unreasonable in an emergency. I would have thought it would automatically begin in certain situations. In the context of suicide, I envisage that any delay would be torturous for someone who finds herself in that situation. It could even compromise her life because of the length of time the matter was under discussion. I, therefore, urge the Minister to accept these changes.

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