The Iona Institute appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children in its hearings on the abortion issue earlier today.

Irish Times columnist Breda O’Brien and barrister Maria Steen told the committee that the Government should amend rather than repeal the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act which criminalises abortion.

They were responding to calls made by some to repeal the Act.

“Such a move would have the effect of decriminalising abortion,” they said.

Instead, Ms O’Brien and Ms Steen said should be amended so that physicians cannot be prosecuted when they decide, in good faith, that there is a real and substantial risk to the life of a mother and this can only be averted by a termination of pregnancy (excluding the suicide ground).

They said such a move would “allay the fears of doctors who believe the current law means there is a ‘Sword of Damocles’ hanging over their heads”.

The Iona Institute also said that legislation authorising suicidal intent as a ground for abortion “will present suicide as an acceptable option in certain circumstances and this would be a very harmful signal to send to a society already suffering from a high suicide rate”.

And they added that any proposed abortion legislation needed include robust protections for the conscience rights of doctors and nurses who object to abortion

“The highest duty of legislators is to pass just rather than unjust laws. This is higher than the duty to any court no matter how august. Authorising the suicide ground for abortion would involve the passage of an unjust law,” they said.