Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I support amendments Nos. 9, 16 and 39. The reasons have been outlined before and are obvious. Amendment No. 9 seeks to change the word "avert" to "mitigate" simply because there will be scenarios where pregnancy is a significant contributory factor to the risk to the health or life of the woman and its termination may significantly mitigate but not entirely avert the risk. Therefore, the provision in the Bill should be amended to better support medical practitioners' clinical judgment. For instance, clinicians have experience and acknowledge that a pre-existing medical condition can be impacted on negatively by pregnancy. The diagnoses and prognoses change with the added pressure on a woman's body caused by pregnancy. As has been said, it can be different for different women, but certainly it is medically indicated and will mitigate but not eliminate the risk. Use of the word "avert" will be quite confusing and result in a lot of toing and froing and guessing. I suggest it will create a high barrier in seeking access to abortion services and an obligation on women to endure a range of severe and debilitating health conditions during pregnancy, often to their detriment in the long term.

The Minister refused to accept similar amendments on Report Stage in the Dáil. He has said practitioners must be satisfied that termination is appropriate, rather than necessary. We will get on to those two words also. Averting the risk will not require it to be eliminated in order for the abortion to be lawful. I ask the Minister to think about this issue to allow doctors to do their jobs and not tie their hands when it comes to ensuring the safety of women. The Minister should insert the word "mitigate" and leave out "avert". I support Senator Bacik in her request that the Minister meet clinicians to provide clarity on the actual practice or procedure to be followed.