Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank both Senators for their good wishes. Go raibh míle maith agaibh. This is an important and detailed Bill. Of course I will tread carefully. There is a need to tread carefully. I want to be extremely sensitive to the family members who are here. I understand why Senator Walsh is probably being a little emotional. If one is a father, one cannot help being emotional when an amendment like this comes in. I would certainly be happy to sit down to examine the international comparisons. I do not want to give out a false ray of hope by suggesting I will change the position in response to the amendments that have been proposed. One of the international comparisons to which I refer is the WHO's recommendation about the way stillbirths should be defined. We can sit down and talk about that. I do not want to give Senator Walsh the impression that I will be amending the Bill in this respect. This is a very important Bill. We should be cautious. I accept that these amendments were not submitted until a relatively late stage. I discussed them briefly with the Senator. I will be quite happy to discuss them with him again over the coming week.