Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My apologies. We have more than the 1997 Act. We have the Children First guidelines and the HSE policy on consent. Deputy Harty outlined in the most articulate and eloquent way the reality of how consent works. This is the norm in the health service. In cases involving people under the age of 16, parents are involved unless there are exceptional circumstances. This is not a mystery for anyone in the health profession. There is no reason to do anything differently in respect of this part of the health service. For those reasons, I do not propose to accept this amendment.

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