Results 16,561-16,580 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: As far as I know, this was initially in the Bill we introduced at the time of the previous referendum. I refer to the concept we are talking about here: significant medical centres that are publicly funded, whether directly or indirectly, and that provide a wide range of services. It would not be possible under this law to have specialised clinics that would deal with terminations only....

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Meaning no disrespect, does the Minister know what section 89 of the 2007 Act states? I am sorry. Maybe I should have looked up the reference.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Will the Minister make it available to me?

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 11: In page 7, lines 22 and 23, to delete “, or by another person pursuant to an arrangement entered into under section 38 of the Health Act 2004”. This amendment seeks to limit the place where any of these procedures could be carried out to an institution managed by the HSE and to make it impossible for it to be done in private institutions.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Will the Minister confirm for everybody with any concern about this, that the Schedule at the back of the Bill is part of the Bill and cannot be changed without legislation?

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I thank the Minister for that and for the clarification. That issue has been put to bed.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 7: In page 6, line 31, after "practicable" to insert the following:"and where such opinion if formed on substantial medical grounds having carried out an assessment of any real and substantial risk to the life of the woman in the light of clinical research and having regard to the necessity, proportionality and justification for any such procedure in the clinical...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I intend to propose this amendment again on Report Stage.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I move amendment No. 10: In page 7, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following:"(4) Any medical practitioner involved in the treatment of a pregnant woman is obliged, subject to the provisions of this Act and the right to life of that pregnant woman, to safeguard the unborn and, where it is potentially viable outside the womb, to make all reasonable and practicable efforts to sustain...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: That is okay.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I would think that it could equally be presumed that a doctor should act "in good faith" at all times. However, that is being put into the Bill as a specific requirement. I would have accepted it as a given that if one is a medical practitioner, one acts in good faith at all times when making decisions, but it has been included specifically in the Bill. There are legal subtleties to this,...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Briefly, the point is that if one includes "in good faith" for reassurance, a similar reassurance would be given if everything had to be done according to "best medical practice" or some equivalent or according to "Medical Council" guidelines.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I agree with the Minister's last point. In fact, one of the main problems with the legislation is that it is very difficult to foresee every situation that might arise. However, the principle I am trying to establish is quite simple, namely, that where there are two equally effective ways of dealing with a threat to the life of a woman, one of which would result in the loss of the life of...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Will the Minister clarify another issue that has come up in this debate which is especially pertinent in the case of persons who present with suicidal ideation? In circumstances where a doctor believes there is a more effective remedy than termination but the patient refuses to accept that remedy, can the doctor then sign a certificate to mandate a termination?

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Is the Minister saying that as an absolute?

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I was slightly surprised that amendments Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, and 10 were not taken together.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I agree that whatever we do must protect the right to life of the woman. For anybody to believe that anybody in this room believes otherwise would be wrong. The explanation given by the Minister and Minister of State on amendment No. 6 is perfectly correct. As the Minister of State said, there is a subtle difference in the Irish version. It is hard to translate it exactly into English....

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: We are trying to create clarity where some doctors believed there was uncertainty. In opposing amendment No. 7 is what the Minister is saying quite simple? The essence of the amendment is that when a doctor is acting in good faith he or she has to take updated clinical and medical and scientific knowledge and best practice into account. Can the Minister reassure me that is the situation?...

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: We cannot clarify the law. We are making the law.

Committee on Health and Children: Select Sub-Committee on Health: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2013)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I will deal with amendment Nos. 7 and 10 and Deputy Billy Kelleher will deal with amendments Nos. 27, 31 and 45. Amendment No. 7 seeks to make absolutely clear that good faith must be informed good faith. The person making the decision must do so in light of clinical research and medical knowledge. It is not a question of good faith but informed good faith in terms of best practice in...