Bill strikes the right balance – Carey

CLARE Government TD Joe Carey said the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, published this week, “strikes the right balance between offering medical professionals certainty and protecting the life of both women and the unborn”.

Deputy Carey said for the first time Government has given “very clear guidelines on how women should be treated when their lives are at risk as a result of pregnancy”.

“This is about saving women’s lives and making sure doctors don’t feel like they are constrained in the treatment they can offer. This is, of course, a very sensitive issue but I would echo the Taoiseach’s comments that no change is being made to the law. We are simply clarifying and recognising the constitutional position,” he said.

He added the bill, which is to be debated by the Oireachtas Health Committee, also includes adequate safeguards and a rigorous process will be put in place in relation to the threat of suicide.

“This legislation has been 21 years in the waiting and the publication of the heads of the bill is a very important step,” he concluded.