Vol. 430 No. 2
51 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Health whether he has examined the findings of the Medical Council's Ethics Committee that abortion was not a necessary part of the decision of the Supreme Court in the X case; if he envisages problems for both patients and doctors as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
63 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health if he will give a report on his meeting with the Medical Council in relation to the controversial abortion guidelines that were issued by the ethics committee; and if he will outline his position in relation to the ethics committee's position on this matter.
72 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health the action, if any, he proposes taking with regard to the guidelines issued by the Medical Council in respect of abortion following the Referendum held in November 1992; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 63 and 72 together.
In the course of a recent meeting with the Medical Council, I pointed out that their statement in relation to ethical guidelines on abortion had given rise to considerable confusion as to its precise interpretation. I asked the Medical Council to re-examine the statement with a view to further clarification and they undertook to do so.
The Medical Council have subsequently issued a further statement which does not, in my view, resolve these problems of interpretation. However, I have noted the statement and will be considering it in the context of the action required to implement the Programme for a Partnership Government's commitments in this area.
