Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

With great respect to Senator Hayden, she seems to be talking about the situation once the child is born. What is at issue here is what protection a doctor has to ensure that if he or she acts in a way that does not take the life of the child but brings the child into the world alive, he or she will be protected in light of the criminal law in that regard and that he or she is not perversely incentivised to act in a more destructive way. That is the core of the issue.

We all agree that once a child is born alive, the duty is there. I think the Minister has revealed he does not understand the legislation. I say this -----