Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020
616. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of occasions on which babies have survived abortions here and have been born alive (details supplied); the number of occasions on which doctors have requested palliative care in relation to same; and if it will be ensured that palliative care will be provided to babies who have survived abortions and been born alive in each case in the future. [39531/20]
View answer618. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of abortions performed after 12 weeks here in which pain relief is being given and not given to the child, respectively. [39533/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 618 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 sets out the law governing access to termination of pregnancy in Ireland. The notification forms which are required to be submitted to the Minister, under section 20 of that Act, do not include the detailed information requested by the Deputy.
I should explain that the purpose of the legislation is not to dictate the practice of obstetrics. Indeed, it should also be noted that it would not be appropriate for me, as Minister for Health, to dictate medical procedures or treatment plans; such decisions are a matter for the treating clinicians in any given case.
The Deputy can however be assured that medical practitioners are bound through professional regulatory mechanisms to operate in accordance with best medical practice.
