David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am struggling to understand the intent behind these amendments. Perhaps the Minister of State will provide some clarification in respect of them. The amendments relate to the judgments which medical professionals and practitioners will make in respect of situations where women's lives will be in danger. Amendment No. 6 suggests that the phrase "being an opinion which respects the equal right to life of the unborn" be inserted into the legislation. The inference is that medical professionals will not respect the equal right to life of the unborn. One could infer something even more sinister from the wording used. It is the latter which gives rise to my concerns. What would be the result if the amendment were to be accepted? The amendments under discussions all relate to sections 7 to 9, inclusive. Those sections are all very clear and address the Supreme Court judgment which refers to a substantial and real risk of loss of life to the mother. Essentially, it is that matter which is under discussion. The medical practitioners who will be obliged to make decisions in this regard - in good faith - will have to do so on the basis of assessing the level of risk to the life of the mother.

I cannot understand why anyone would want to include the phrase "being an opinion which respects the equal right to life of the unborn". As already indicated, the inference here is that medical professionals would not be making their decisions on the basis of the risk to the life of the mother but rather for other reasons. I cannot accept that and I do not believe it is what medical practitioners making decisions in good faith would do.