Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a husband and father, I know a pregnancy always brings a sense of excitement to a couple and of hoping the birth will be one of joy and lead to a child who can live a long, happy, fulfilling and contributing life. Everybody can understand the Deputy's comments and have some compassion on the issues he raises. I have come across cases where this has applied and the pregnant mother wanted to see the pregnancy through in order that she could hold the delivered baby in her arms and carry out an appropriate burial. The situation was explained to the Minister for Health by representatives of the group to which the Deputy referred at a meeting in June last year. The Minister, as a doctor and father, empathised with them on the case they had made and outlined. The Bill going through the House on the protection of life during pregnancy is strictly within the Constitution and the law and deals specifically with cases in which there is a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother and the circumstances that arise in those cases in which a termination is allowed under the Constitution and the law. In that sense, while I understand the point the Deputy is making, this is a different set of circumstances which are not contemplated under the Bill. The constitutional right to life of the unborn is being upheld in the Bill and the obligation on the medical profession to save both lives, where possible, will be confirmed in it. Unfortunately, I cannot accede to the Deputy's request. While I understand the point he made, we are dealing with a specific set of circumstances where there is a real and substantial threat to the life of the mother and the circumstances arising from this in which a termination of a pregnancy is allowed.

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