Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I provided a briefing yesterday for Senators through the Seanad Office. A number of the Senators attended. There was an opportunity to hear from the Chief Medical Officer, from Dr. Peter Boylan, former chairman of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and from Dr. Mark Murphy, a general practitioner involved in the rolling out of the service.

Explained very clearly at the meeting was the rationale behind the use of the word "examined" rather than "consulted with" or variations thereof. The logic was that the word "examined" had a degree of legal and medical clarity that variations did not have. Even in our exchanges yesterday, it became apparent that sticking additional words into the legislation would have placed, for entirely unintended reasons, additional barriers and tests in the way of a doctor trying to provide a service to a woman. Based on the very strong legal advice I have received and the reasons outlined by medical professionals, including the Chief Medical Officer, to Members of the Seanad, including a number of sponsors of this amendment, I strongly urge the House to reflect on the matter. For that reason, I oppose the amendment.