Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am incredibly proud to play a part in a debate that will ensure the people will have a say on the eight amendment. As the youngest Member of Seanad Éireann and the only Member of this House in his 20s, I think of what the eighth amendment has meant to my generation - a boat, a plane or a pill. The pills are as safe as any drug available in a club or pub or at a festival on a night out. These pills are the equivalent of rubbish recreational drugs and we are currently content with that form of health care for women.For a large cohort of women the eighth amendment has meant that their bodily autonomy has not been a reality. The State and its Constitution have subjugated their bodies yet, for the most part, shirked any responsibility to provide meaningful or accessible contraception, family planning or robust sexual education, all measures which would reduce the instances in which abortion is required.

One element of this conversation which continuously puzzles me, as a young person, is how we are so unique in a European context because every other European country has dealt with this matter with the exception of Poland and Malta. The historic parallels between Malta and Ireland are very clear. While I respect very deeply the sentiment expressed by Senator McDowell about religion and Senator Reilly's request that ideology, theory and theology be left at the door when discussing this matter, what Senator Ruane said spoke to me. A different argument works for everyone. While the church and State remain intrinsically linked, we will have similar conversations time and again into the future. These conversations mirror those on the referendum for civil marriage equality. We did not dare to ask to walk up the aisle of any church but asked for civil marriage equality.

This is a legacy issue, one that was born from a church mantra that women had to be subservient keepers of a home, comely maidens and loyal wives. The ethos incarcerated women in mother and baby homes, Magdalen laundries and mental institutions. It simply dictated that women were nothing but vessels and passive participants in their own sex lives. The eighth amendment solidifies that discrimination.

We should be under no illusion that this State cannot proclaim itself to be either safe for women or one that trusts women while the eighth amendment remains. I consider my generation to be one of the most engaged age groups campaigning for the repeal and removal of the eighth amendment and I believe it does so because it fears the circumstances where Article 40.3.3° restricts access to adequate reproductive health care. Also, it possesses an innate solidarity with every woman who has found herself in such a difficult situation.

Senator Bacik spoke about access to information during the last debate. When I think about young people's access to information, I think about the debate we had during our Private Members' time recently and the ability of young people to be informed and active participants in our democracy.

The Oireachtas plays an important role in this debate. As State legislators, the work we do has a substantial affect on people's lives and their role in shaping society. In this instance, our role will have an affect on women's bodily autonomy for the present and for future generations. We cannot fail them. We have a role that can scrutinise our constitutional provisions and propose changes. Bunreacht na hÉireann declares that the State's sovereignty is derived from the people of Ireland. We are fully accountable to them and I respect that. That is why I find it disappointing that 32 Members of Dáil Éireann, one of which is a member of the Sinn Féin party, sought to deny the people a referendum on a question that has not been asked since 1983. I am somewhat heartened by the fact that all Members of this House who were born since the 1983 referendum will vote in favour of a referendum being held. Our generation deserves to have its voices heard.

Our generation should receive accessible reproductive health care and contraception. I welcome the comments made by the Minister, Deputy Harris, tonight about the provision of contraception. All sides of this debate wish to see the circumstances in which abortions are availed of reduced but this can only be done by access to contraception and inclusive and robust sexual education.

Sinn Féin is proud to support this Bill today. We will not impede the clear and democratic avenue that is a referendum long sought and long overdue. I will again quote Mr. Gerry Edwards who spoke at the campaign launch of Together for Yes and whose words were reiterated by Senator Bacik during the course of this debate. He said:

We’ve moved on from dropping our pregnant women at the gates of a laundry. I think we’ve moved on from dropping them at departures gates too."