Mary Henry (Independent)

The decision to introduce amendments Nos. 21, 47 and 49 was an inspired one. The provisions of the 1949 Act which are being amended, such as the reference to "punishment", were totally outdated from the point of view of the physiology of childbirth. I commend the Minister, Deputy McDowell, on introducing the amendments in question, which have made this aspect of the Bill much more reasonable.