Delaying tactics on abortion legislation must end – O’Connell

The delaying tactics employed in the Oireachtas on the abortion debate must come to an end, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Kate O’Connell, who was a member of the Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment, said it is time to give the 66.4% of people who voted Yes the change they voted for.

“It is really unfortunate to see the politicians who campaigned against repeal of the 8^th Amendment, ignoring the will of the people and attempting to delay the finalisation of the legislation in the Dáil.

“The same old arguments are being rehashed again, long after the people have had their say on this issue.

“As we saw during the campaign, there is a lot of scaremongering going on around medics and their right to opt out. Let me be clear; the law on abortion is changing. The law on conscientious objection is not. Doctors, nurses and midwives can conscientiously object to provide the service but they must offer information to the woman to ensure she receives adequate care.

“There is also currently an attempt to prevent doctors receiving training in essential health service provision. We have seen evidence of hospital management receiving some unpleasant communications and people are trying to bully and intimidate doctors from having an educational event, and I find that disturbing.

“The proposal to have a GP-led service was first proposed by the Oireachtas committee on the Eighth Amendment. This is what the people voted for and this is what we must now put in place.

“Last week, a motion was put forward in the Dáil attempting to make people pay for abortion services, thereby discriminating against women on low incomes. This would have been a hugely regressive step and another delaying tactic by opposition members.

“It is the full intention of Minister Harris and the Government to have abortion services operational in January and I appeal to members of the Oireachtas not to obstruct the passage of the legislation any further,” Deputy Kate O’Connell said.