Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Senator Gilroy also raised the question of reasonableness. He seems to be suggesting that in the case of a certification under section 9 that there is a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother which can only be averted by this procedure, the opinion of the practitioners in question must be reasonable and must be in good faith. However, that is not what the legislation says. In fact, the notion of a reasonable opinion is actually turned upside down in the legislation because it defines for us what a reasonable opinion is. It is defined as an opinion formed in good faith which has regard to the need to preserve unborn life as far as is practicable. It is entirely subjective.