Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The legislation is not about whether we trust doctors or not or about whether a particular doctor will set out to do wrong things. Legislation should be about putting an issue beyond doubt. I trust doctors, but I am not so sure I trust all doctors.

We have not heard an argument against including protection for a doctor who intervenes in a way that leaves the child alive. By way of justification for his approach - this is why I question his understanding - the Minister pointed to the provision that there must be a reasonable opinion formed in good faith which has regard to the need to preserve unborn human life, and some amendments have been submitted in this regard, because there are problems with the definition of "reasonable opinion". Let us be clear, this does not say it shall be lawful to carry out a medical procedure where human life is ended, where the person has regard to the need to preserve unborn human life. It does not say that.