Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will briefly speak to the amendment. Regardless of whether the amendment is flawed, a debate on parental notification is important. I was not present at the committee so I did not have the benefit of what other Members heard there. I would welcome clarity on the issue of medical consent. For example, if a young girl below the age of 16 needs an appendicitis operation, she needs parental consent. I assume if a young girl needs a surgical abortion, she would also need parental consent. The Minister should confirm this on the record of the House. I refer to the case of a young girl under the age of 16 who needs a medical abortion and who attends her GP, as a young girl who presents to her GP looking for the birth control pill normally has to have medical consent. It is extremely important that this is put on the record of the House. I did not quite hear all the Minister has said. There was a little bit of noise in the Chamber. In the interests of trying to be helpful, I think it is extremely important for the Minister to put that on the record of the House. There are a lot of misconceptions about parental consent among the public and in the media. I understand what parental consent is. In relation for medical matters, the requirement applies under the age of 16. I will conclude and ask the Minister to respond, if that is acceptable to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

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