Lorraine Higgins (Labour) | Oireachtas source

-----to legislate for the X case. That is the reality. It has been ignored by successive Governments since then but this Government has taken the bull by the horns to sort out this sorry situation.

We must be clear about what the situation was and is under the X case before this Bill becomes law. I will put myself in the situation. At present, if I happen to be suicidal by virtue of my pregnancy, I could go to the High Court after getting a report or an assessment from an unregistered individual or somebody who might have completed a three month or six month course and I could apply to have the court direct the HSE to find a doctor to perform an abortion on me. That is the law as it stands. This legislation provides that somebody in this situation must see a gynaecologist, an obstetrician and a psychiatrist. In addition, an appeal is also a basis-----