David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have no intention of raising that issue at all. I am very reluctant to speak but I want to make one comment on these amendments. The previous speaker said that he was not happy with the words “good faith”. Several Senators have said this several times. They then go on to say that they do not want to call into question the decision-making capacity of any medical professionals but that is exactly what they are doing. That is the point. I believe that the wording here is very clear. It states:

It shall be lawful to carry out a medical procedure in respect of a pregnant woman in accordance with this section in the course of which, or as a result of which, an unborn human life is ended where--
...(b) subject to section 19, two medical practitioners, having examined the pregnant woman, have jointly certified in good faith that--

(i) there is a real and substantial risk of loss of the woman's life from a physical illness, and
(ii) in their reasonable opinion,...

This is based on good faith. To me it could not be any clearer. It is crystal clear. The argument being put forward by some people, who are allowing themselves very deliberately be wrapped up in linguistic arguments for their own purposes, is that they do not believe that even where there is a risk of loss of life from physical illness a termination should be allowed. There are people who hold that view. One could argue that they are entitled to hold that view.