Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Oireachtas committee met over several months. Members were obliged to study lengthy presentations along with trying to digest the assembly report which was quite hefty. All members of the committee deserve our thanks and appreciation.

The decisions and recommendations of both the assembly and the Oireachtas committee are crystal clear. There has been no obfuscation or confusion and the people know this full well.Now it is our turn to decide. The issue is whether the repeal of the eighth amendment should be put to the people. I see no valid reason for us to decide otherwise. We will not be thanked by the people if we deprive them of a say on an issue of such importance, that has been debated in every forum, on every radio and television show and in every household over and over again since the amendment was first inserted into the Constitution in 1983. A high percentage of the populace who voted then have gone to their eternal reward and nobody under the age of 53 years has ever been given an opportunity to record an opinion on this, the defining health and social issue of our time. Should we decide today to deny them their say, there would be uproar, regardless of what opinion people might have on the subject. Let us not bring this august House into disrepute by silencing the voice of the people.

The 1937 Constitution which was put forward by the founder of my party, Éamon de Valera, has, undoubtedly, stood the test of time, but it is a living document and each succeeding generation will seek to effect its own changes, additions and deletions. I hope and trust that this House which has always welcomed and celebrated diversity and engagement will clear the way for the vox populito be heard at last on repeal and for the substantive issue to be settled decisively for our time, one way or another.

The Government has published a broad schedule of the legislation it proposes to introduce should the referendum succeed. In the main, I welcome what is being suggested, even though I am underwhelmed by some of the posturing and confusion that have attended the Government's deliberations, especially in the past 24 hours. The Tánaiste has posited the notion that a two thirds majority in the Dáil and, I presume, the Seanad should be required to effect any future legislative change to the schedule outlined. It Is quite shocking that a senior member of the Government fails to understand this cannot happen. Apart from impeachment of Uachtarán na hÉireann - perish the thought - all votes in the Oireachtas are decided by simple majority, as even the most recent newcomer knows.