Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In his response to me and to others, the Minister said he did not wish to be prescriptive and does not want to tell doctors what to do. I can accept that. What will the doctors do? That is what I want to know. What will they do in the course of a termination-abortion? Will an anaesthetist be present to ensure the baby is given an anaesthetic so that when its life is ended it is ended pain free? I do not know any human being, any Senator in this Chamber, who would not want that.

Just because this amendment was never presented in the Dáil does not mean we should not have open enough minds. Ours is not a barbaric country. I ask the Minister to give us a chance and open his mind. I am not looking for him to do anything except to tell me what the doctors will do. Will they deliver an anaesthetic so that the baby's life is pain free as it is being ended?

I have a second point. I understand the Minister is bringing out regulations in conjunction with the Bill. Where are the regulations, and when will we see them? Will they include information about the actual termination, how it will be carried out and whether an anaesthetist will be present to ensure the ending is pain free?