Results 5,381-5,400 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: International Legal and Services Context: Dr. Gilda Sedgh, Guttmacher Institute and Ms Leah Hoctor, Center for Reproductive Rights (8 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: They are not coming so we will not get to question their methodology. However, it is also fair to say it is beyond dispute, given the evidence we have heard before this committee from people in the medical profession, that the eighth amendment has actually cost people their lives as well. I think that should also be put on the record. That is the only evidence that has been presented...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Mental Health: Dr. Anthony McCarthy, National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street (8 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: In his contribution, Professor McCarthy referred to mental health outcomes after induced abortion and research evidence in the area. He pointed out that there is no significant research in Ireland. He gave the caveat that the advice he would give is that any research be looked at in a critical, informed and objective manner. He then spoke about the review of the mental health outcomes of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Mental Health: Dr. Anthony McCarthy, National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street (8 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: I can finish my question. We have eight minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Mental Health: Dr. Anthony McCarthy, National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street (8 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: Professor McCarthy said that the findings showed that an unwanted pregnancy was associated with increased risk to mental health, but the rates of mental health problems in unwanted pregnancies were the same after termination or whether a woman gave birth. I presume the research was carried out in countries with very liberal regimes. We heard evidence today that Ireland, Andorra and, I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Mental Health: Dr. Anthony McCarthy, National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street (8 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: Finding (d) in Dr. McCarthy's presentation states "... women who were exposed to strongly negative attitudes towards abortion in general and to her personal experience, were likely to have worse outcomes". What could Dr. McCarthy extrapolate from that? In a country with a very restrictive abortion regime and very negative attitudes to women, for instance we criminalise women who have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Mental Health: Dr. Anthony McCarthy, National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street (8 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: Based on Dr. McCarthy's experience - - - - -

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Mental Health: Dr. Anthony McCarthy, National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street (8 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: My follow-up question arises from Dr. McCarthy's public comments during the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill. One of his comments was why would any woman want to put herself through the process of having to go before a panel and almost have their mental health questioned. If we were to get to a position where we had a more liberal regime for terminations, where mental health was one...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Risks to Mental Health: Dr. Anthony McCarthy, National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street (8 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: Could it have a more negative impact on her?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Business of Joint Committee (8 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: The letter was read out at approximately 3.30 p.m. This is a joke and I am starting to lose my temper.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Business of Joint Committee (8 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: At 3.30 p.m., while the committee was sitting, the Senator went outside to speak to the media about this issue. He undermines the Chair at every opportunity.

Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016 Report: Motion [Private Members] (9 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: That is disingenuous now.

Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016 Report: Motion [Private Members] (9 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: Deputy Barry is wrong.

Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016 Report: Motion [Private Members] (9 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: The only people who did not do a U-turn was Solidarity-PBP; it compromised.

Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016 Report: Motion [Private Members] (9 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: What, compromisation?

Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016 Report: Motion [Private Members] (9 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: I will call a halt to it now in a minute.

Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016 Report: Motion [Private Members] (9 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: Not true.

Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016 Report: Motion [Private Members] (9 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: Not at all.

Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016 Report: Motion [Private Members] (9 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: No. The email that I got from Deputy Coppinger's colleague changed our minds, not public pressure.

Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016 Report: Motion [Private Members] (9 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: It took one email and a couple of conversations that Deputy Coppinger's group was not ready to have.

Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016 Report: Motion [Private Members] (9 Nov 2017)

Jonathan O'Brien: The reason we have decided to support the amendment to the motion to allow the Bill to go to Committee Stage is because we sat down with Deputies Kenny and Boyd Barrett last week. In fairness to both, we had a very frank conversation around some of the issues we had with the Bill. Deputy Kenny has always known that we have concerns about certain aspects of the Bill which have prevented us...