Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013
Despite the considerable controversy we have had around this debate, I am very happy to be a member of the 31st Dáil that will at last legislate to protect the lives of women when their life is threatened by their pregnancy. I think it is to our shame that we have waited until we were forced by the international community to take action in this area. It is to our shame that we forced sick, distressed and often heartbroken women onto boats and aeroplanes to find elsewhere the compassion that was not available to them here at home in their own country. When I say it is to our shame, I mean it is to our shame as legislators. It is not, and has not been for a long time, the will of the Irish people that sick women should be treated like this. In successive referenda they told us what they wanted and those views have been confirmed in successive opinion polls, opinion polls which have shown the people to be far ahead of we politicians in both compassion and understanding.
26th June 2013