The Master of the Rotunda says the suicide clause should be removed from the abortion legislation.
The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill has now entered the committee stages where the contentious clause is to be discussed. Sam Coulter-Smith argues that there is no medical evidence to suggest that abortion assists in circumstances where a woman's life is at risk because of suicide.
Last night four Fine Gael TDs voted against the government on abortion laws. Billy Timmins, Peter Matthews, Brian Walsh and Terence Flanagan say it was a matter of conscience for them to vote against the laws. They all objected to the inclusion of the suicide provision.
They will now be expelled from the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party.
Yesterday the Health Minister ruled out extending the legislation to cover fatal foetal abnormalities. He said he could not do so on the advice of the Attorney-General. There was also a debate on term limits on terminations but James Reilly said people were wrongly interpreting the legislation.
The suicide clause has yet to be discussed in depth but Minister Reilly says it is very restrictive.
"There's no question in this Bill of a situation arising where somebody could attend two psychiatrists in the morning and have a procedure carried out in the afternoon" he said.
"That might be what some people want, but that is not what's going to happen with this Bill" he added.
But the Master of the Rotunda says he believes the way in which the Bill is worded could put doctors in a difficult position. Dr. Sam Coulter-Smith spoke to Breakfast here on Newstalk.
