Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Yes. There are huge issues involved. From my experience in this Parliament over 26 years, these debates are always painful, difficult and emotive. In our most recent abortion referendum, the question of when life begins was a major issue, including the question of implantation, which caused a great deal of concern. Since I am neither a scientist, a doctor nor a lawyer, I am not in a position to say what the legal implications of all this may be. However, I understand there has been no judicial guidance on the subject of embryos outside the womb. Accordingly, I do not believe that I, or anybody else, can state the legal or constitutional position of an embryo outside the womb.