Results 13,801-13,820 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: In the Minister's reply, he sought to suggest that the urgency was in the text of section 7. Nowhere is that reflected in the section, in my opinion. I am genuinely concerned about this, and I am a Deputy who has already declared his support for the passage of this legislation. The whole intent of the amendments is to assist in strengthening the Bill and making it as assuring as possible....

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Disgraceful.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I listened to the Minister very carefully, as I have done throughout this legislation since its proposal, during its presentation as heads of a Bill and right through to its publication. I am very clear on everything he said, and I repeat that nowhere in section 7 does it reflect the urgency that I, as a citizen, and on behalf of those I represent, would expect to see expressly inserted. I...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: There will be no meeting of minds given the positions that the Minister and Minister of State have taken on the amendments being required or not. I take the view that the Bill is there to address not only those who are entrusted with clinical practice making the decisions but also to address the greater body of citizens, especially women. That was most certainly large in my mind when...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: As the tabler on behalf of Sinn Féin of amendment No. 34, I wish to speak to this. The amendment seeks to place the requirements in relation to medical practitioners vis-à-vis section 9 on a similar basis to that applying in section 7 - that is, two medical practitioners. The view behind the proposition is that the requirement for three medical practitioners in section 9 is...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I wish to revert briefly to the amendments I have tabled on behalf of my party in this grouping, namely, amendments Nos. 34 and 54. There was a strong and consistent case made in the course of the hearings on the heads of the Bill by a number of voices urging the amalgamation of the respective heads of the Bill pertaining to a risk to the life of the woman where a physical illness presents...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 44: In page 10, line 26, after “consult” to insert “, with appropriate urgency,”.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It is important to record again that there is no view among our number or among those who came before us that abortion is a treatment for suicidal tendencies. Some with a particular view in this debate suggest that others with a different view may hold that view and that is not the case. There is no currency for the notion that abortion is a treatment for suicidal tendencies. A woman may...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I support Deputy Seamus Healy’s proposition. It is most regrettable that my amendment No. 76, which refers to aftercare and optional therapeutic counselling services, has been ruled out of order. The two proposals are not linked but both pertain to the care regime we want to see in place. Since my amendment has been ruled out of order on the basis that it may involve a potential...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I wish to speak to my own amendment, which is amendment No. 58. This seeks to reduce the seven-day requirement in the legislation as drafted to four days. I believe seven days for the panel to determine a review or appeal is simply too long a period of time.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I understand the issues arising in regard to convening the panel but in the circumstances I would have thought four days to be ample time for expert professionals to reach a decision once the panel has been convened. I appreciate that the initial period has at least been reduced to three days as opposed to might have been previously suggested but I continue to believe seven days is...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I move amendment No. 58: In page 12, line 25, to delete “7 days” and substitute “4 days”.I supported Deputy Healy on three days and I will now test the water with four days.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I support Deputy Healy's appeal. There are cases in which an examination may not be required and sufficient information may be ascertainable without a direct one-to-one meeting between the review panel and the women concerned. The amendment offers more flexibility and by removing the absolute requirement for the physical examination, it would facilitate earlier decision-making in some...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Deputy Ó Cuív made reference to the review being consequential on the rejection by the initial clinician consultant assessors of the particular case under section 7 or section 9. It could be the case that it might be a divided and not a unanimous opinion. It does not necessarily mean they were all of one opinion. Given all the restrictions and requirements of the Bill and the...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Again, it comes down to the assessment. It is not a court of law that we are creating and it is very important that this be retained. My earlier contribution was open to a number of interpretations. I wish to make it absolutely clear that I am not supporting the amendment as proposed. The purpose of my contribution was to demonstrate that this must and can only be in the process of a...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I support amendments Nos. 69 and 73. Amendment No. 73 strengthens what is in the legislation and I welcome it accordingly. I am sympathetic to the view expressed by Deputy Ó Cuív in relation to amendment 69. I ask the Minister to consider whether it would be feasible to add to "report to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas" at the end of his amendment No. 69 the phrase...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I know as an Opposition Deputy that the argument will come back, as it did in the Chairman's letter, that it could constitute a potential charge on the Exchequer but I can only appeal to the Minister to offer therapeutic counselling services for a woman who has been through this procedure. It is up to her whether she would seek to avail of the services and after care. I appeal to the...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank the Chairman for allowing us to reflect on this amendment. Could the Minister in the intervening days consider the reaffirmation of that point?. It is an information mechanism and it would be helpful if that was reflected in the Bill.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I thank the Minister and the Chairman again.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2013)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I am broadly sympathetic to Deputy Healy's amendment because it is reflective of a concern which has a certain currency. It is only in the practice of it that we will see whether it will be the case. We all hope it will not be. He is seeking assurance and greater certainty. It merits consideration on that basis.