REPRESENTATIVES from the churches and religious groups, medical practitioners, legal experts, and from advocacy groups, will address the Committee on Health and Children next week when it holds three days of hearings following the decision by Government to proceed to address the issues raised in the ABC judgement with legislation and regulations, within the parameters of Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution.
The purpose of the meetings will be to gather information which will be of assistance to Government in the drafting further legislation.
At the conclusion of the meetings the Committee will furnish a report to Government summarising the contributions received during the consultative process. The group meets some 25 months after the European Court of Human Rights case in 2010.
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.
“It is the Committee’s intention to consult widely with medical and legal experts as well as advocacy groups so that we can assist in the process of drafting the legislation. Our hearings will be conducted in a balanced and calm manner focussing on the issues which need to be considered in drafting the legislation and regulations.”
