Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Jim Daly, to the House.

On Thursday, 24 March 1983, the Second Stage debate of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 1982 took place in Dáil Éireann. I was privileged to be a Member of Dáil Éireann at the time and voted with 139 Members in favour of the Bill. Eleven Members of Dáil Éireann voted against the legislation and they were mainly members of the Labour Party. Six current Members of Dáil Éireann were Members of Dáil Éireann in 1983. I am the sole Member of Seanad Éireann who was a Member of Dáil Éireann and voted for the eighth amendment on 24 March 1983. Thirty five years later I feel very privileged to be a Member of Seanad Éireann. I take this opportunity to reconfirm my support for the eighth amendment and stress that I will vote against the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018. Senator McDowell outlined exactly the rights and privileges of the Members of this House to take whatever action they feel appropriate.