Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 19 proposes widening the list of medical practitioners permitted to carry the medical procedure at issue in the legislation. However, other than in an emergency, a termination of pregnancy should be carried out only by an obstetrician or gynaecologist. This strict provision is to ensure that the procedure will be carried out only by highly skilled, qualified and relevant medical personnel in order to secure the best possible care for the woman whose life is at risk and for the unborn. For that reason, I cannot accept the Senator's amendment.

I am sure the Houses is aware that the restriction to an obstetrician or gynaecologist does not, for very good reasons, apply to section 8 in respect of emergencies. That is clear. I believed the Senator was positing an emergency at some point in his contribution but perhaps he was not.