7 Ean 2013, 10:13
The Committee on Health and Children will hold three days of public hearings on 8th, 9th and 10th January 2013 on the Implementation of the Government Decision following the publication of the Expert Group Report into matters relating to A, B, C, vs Ireland.
7 January 2013
The purpose of the meetings, which will be held in the Seanad Chamber, will be to gather information which will be of assistance to Government in the drafting of the Heads of Bill following its decision.
The Committee will hear contributions from experienced medical practitioners, legal experts, representatives of churches and religious groups and from advocacy groups. It is intended that the hearings will help to determine what issues need to be addressed in the Heads of Bill and draft regulations.
The groups attending the public hearings are:
Tuesday 8th January - Seanad Eireann (Medical Hearings)
Session 1: @ 9.30 - 11.30
Department of Health (Ms. Geraldine Luddy ...to open)
Irish Medical Council (Ms.Caroline Spillane, CEO., & Mr. Kieran Murphy, President)
Session 2: @ 11.45 - 13.45
Dr. Rhona Mahony, Master, National Maternity Hospital,
Dr. Sam Coulter Smyth, Master Rotunda Hospital,
Dr. Mary McCaffrey. Kerry Hospital, Tralee.
Session 3: @ 14.45 - 16.45
Dr. Anthony McCarthy,
Dr. Joanne Fenton,
Dr. John Sheehan
Dr. Maeve Doyle (all College of Psychiatry Ireland)
Prof. Patricia Casey (Dept. of Adult Psychiatry, UCD & Mater Misercordiae University Hospital)
Prof. Veronica O'Kane (Dept. of Psychiatry, Tallaght Hospital)
Session 4: @ 17:00 - 19.00
Irish Family Planning Association (Mr. Niall Behan CEO, Dr. Caitriona Henchion)
Institute of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (Prof. Robert F Harrison, Chairman, Dr. Meabh Ni Bhuinneain, Prof. Fionnuala McAuliffe)
Maternal Death Inquiry Ireland (Prof. Richard Greene)
Wednesday 9th January - Seanad Eireann (Legal Hearings)
Session 1: @ 9.30 - 11.30
Ms. Jeniffer Schweppe (University of Limerick)
Ms. Ciara Staunton (NUI Galway)
Dr. Simon Mills (Law Library)
Session 2: @ 11.45 - 13.45
Irish Council of Civil Liberties (Mr Stephen O'Hare, Mr Alan D.P. Brady)
Session 3: @ 14.45 - 16.15
Professor William Binchy (Trinity College Dublin)
Hon. Judge Catherine McGuiness (retired)
Thursday 10th January - Seanad Eireann (Churches & Advocacy Groups)
Session 1: @ 9.30-11.30
Irish Catholic Bishops Conference (Rev. Christopher Jones, Bishop of Elphin; Fr. Timothy Bartlett)
Church of Ireland (Most Rev. Dr. Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin; Mr. Samuel Harper)
Presbyterian Church of Ireland (Dr. Trevor Morrow, Dr. Roy Patton)
Methodist Church of Ireland (Ms. Heidi Good)
Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland (Dr. Ali Selim)
Atheist Ireland, (Mr. Michael Nugent,)
Session 2: @ 11.45- 13.45
Pro Life Campaign (Ms. Caroline Simons; Dr. Berry Kiely)
Youth Defence (Dr. Eoghan de Faoite; Dr. Sean O'Domhnaill)
Family & life (Mr. Patrick Carr, Mr. David Manley)
Iona Institute (Ms. Breda O'Brien)
Session 3: @ 14.45 - 16.45
Choice Ireland (Ms. Jacinta Fay; Ms. Denise Ryan)
National Womens Council of Ireland (Ms. Orla O'Connor, Director, Ms. Jacqueline Healy)
Action on X (Ms. Ailbhe Smyth; Ms. Therese Caherty)
All hearings will be in public session and will be broadcast live on these pages and on the Oireachtas channel 207 on the UPC cable network.
At the conclusion of the meetings the Committee will furnish a report to Government summarising the contributions received during the consultative process.
Committee Chairman, Jerry Buttimer TD said: “The Government has decided that it will proceed to address the issues raised in the ABC judgement with legislation and regulations. It has requested that the Committee assists in the gathering of information to be considered in the drafting of the Heads of Bill.
“Our meetings next week will provide an opportunity for Committee members to listen and engage with a wide range of groups, including medical and legal experts as well as advocacy groups and Churches.
“The Committee’s hearings will be conducted in a balanced, fair and calm manner focussing on the issues which need to be considered in drafting the legislation and regulations. While we recognise that many people have divergent and deep-held views on the issues involved, we expect that the meetings will be held in a manner that is respectful and tolerant.
“We would hope to be able to report to the Government by the end of the month on the information we gather from our meetings.”
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
ENDS
Committee Membership:
Deputies
Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael
Catherine Byrne, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Ciara Conway, Labour Party
Regina Doherty, Fine Gael
Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael
Seamus Healy, Independent
Billy Kelleher, Fianna Fáil
Eamonn Maloney, Labour Party
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Denis Naughten, Independent
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Fein
Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil
Senators
Colm Burke, Fine Gael
John Crown, Independent
John Gilroy, Labour Party
Imelda Henry, Fine Gael
Marc Mac Sharry, Fine Fail
Jillian Van Turnhout, Independent