Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We had consultants in here during the public debate who gave up their time freely to assist us in the drafting of this Bill. They gave their point of view. I am concerned that we are now extensively quoting from the UK and from America. The last quote from Senator Walsh went back to 1984. We have moved on in respect of medical practice and procedure in 30 years. We have a committed number of medical people in this country who are providing maternity care. We have over 75,000 deliveries in this country. We have the lowest maternal mortality rate and the lowest perinatal mortality rate across Europe. I have no doubt whatsoever that this will continue.

This amendment and some of the other amendments are trying to put restrictions on what doctors can and cannot do. They work with the sole purpose of trying to protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn. All of the consultants who are working in this area spent five or six years in college, and another 11 or 12 years before they reach consultant status. Here we have people coming in who are reading papers and who have not got their expertise and who are now trying to put restrictions on what they can and cannot do.

The Constitution is quite clear on this matter. Article 40.3.3o sets out quite clearly that the life of the mother and the life of the unborn must be protected at all times. It is only when there is a risk to the life of the mother that certain procedures can be carried out in order to save the mother. These proposals are unimplementable, are not feasible and that is the medical advice that I have received. Therefore, under no circumstances can the proposals as set out here be accepted.