Paul Bradford (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----or evidence-based treatment but that is for section 9. I was going to ask the same question that Senators Ó Domhnaill and Healy Eames asked but Senator Colm Burke has answered it. Perhaps the Minister of State will be able to clarify, as indicated by Senator Colm Burke, that this piece legislation and its uses will only apply to Irish mothers.

I have a question on expenses incurred. Section expenses is a general heading in every legislation. However, a Munster-based consultant made an interesting observation about expenses at the hearings by reminding us that there would be a cost for training Irish nurses, doctors and hospital staff. It was stated on the record of the hearings that staff would have to be trained to carry out these procedures. Can the Minister of State tell me the training costs for the staff who have never previously participated in abortions and, under this law, will be obliged to provide abortions in the distinct hospitals? One of the consultants at the hearings made the observation that training would have to be provided in the hospitals. Is it the Department or the hospitals who will pay the training costs?