Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 17 Jun 1993

Vol. 432 No. 5

Written Answers. - Medical Ethics.

Liz McManus

Question:

85 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health his views on the proposal that the Medical Council should be asked to devise a code of ethics governing complex issues of individual morality such as abortion as such a code might be held to have the force of law; and whether the report implies that the Government is continuing to consider incorporating the distinction between life and health of women, defeated in the referendum, into proposed legislation.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

The Programme for a Partnership Government provides for the introduction of legislation to regulate the position arising from the Supreme Court decision in the "X" case. The programme states that the legislation will recognise the sensitivity of the issue throughout the community.

I agree that the issue is a complex one, and there are constitutional, legal and medical aspects to this complexity. I have stated that, before finalising my legislative proposals, I will engage in widespread consultation in order to take account of the genuine concerns of the medical profession and of the community generally. I do not propose to anticipate the outcome of this process at this stage.