Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's answer is very helpful. My question is very simple. There are two stages to this issue, there is post 12 weeks and post-viability. We know that a baby at 12 weeks will not be viable. We are talking about probably 22 weeks plus. I am fortunate to be the aunt of little twins who were born at 24 weeks and are now six years old. We know in my family what is possible. We did not see those little babies for four months after they were born because they could not be visited except by their parents. The fundamental question is this: if the Minister is saying that a baby will be delivered on the cusp plus post-viability and everything will be done to save that baby's life why does he not put that wording in the Bill? I want the Minister to specifically answer that question. Why does the Minister not put that wording in the Bill? I heard Senator van Turnhout say that we always hear "It was the Attorney General who told me". We get tired hearing this when we do not know what the Attorney General is actually saying. I will return to the second question which concerns pre-viability. The Minister mentioned from 12 weeks to viability, so there is a potential ten weeks. What will happen to that baby? As they are not viable, what will happen from 12 weeks to the viable stage which is 22 weeks?