Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a great House for expressing a wide church of opinions and has been for many decades. The debate has continued since the eighth amendment was made to the Constitution in the 1980s. It should never have been inserted into the Constitution, but the people felt that was the right course of action. Over 30 years later the question of whether the amendment should be in the Constitution will be put to the people again. It is appropriate that they should decide, irrespective of the views of Members of this House. Ultimately, the referendum will be the great democratic leveller when the people, in their wisdom, will decide whether it is appropriate that abortion or the protection of life should be a factor in the Constitution.

This is the only country in the world that has enshrined the issue in its constitution. It is my absolute belief it should not be included in it and I have consistently made that position clear since I entered politics in 2004. At times it has not been popular to take that position, particularly given that I come from a rural area, but the people should know exactly where we stand on whether it should be included. I salute all politicians in both Houses who state their position and have not fudged but who have said exactly whether they want it in or out and whether they believe there should be a referendum. I respect those who believe there should not be one as much as I respect those who believe there should be. The people I do not respect are the ones who sit on the fence, do not state their position and do not tell the people who are paying their salaries and elect them to both Houses. The vote is coming up which, in many ways, will wash them out. For those who have gone missing, it is a matter for their own conscience because I do not believe anyone can hide from this issue.

I also do not believe politicians can hide from stating what their position will be when legislation is brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The people have an expectation and a right to know where we all stand on the legislation that the Government is in the process of publishing, if it has not done so already. I will support the recommendations of the joint committee which was ably chaired by my colleague, Senator Catherine Noone, and on which the legislation will be based. Much work was done and many voices were heard, while opinions were sought and heard. A fair and reasonable report was issued based on medical and ethical evidence, life experience and so on. Now we have the Internet which did not exist 30 years ago. Kids and young people can go online and purchase abortion pills, unregulated and unethically, which they can use without medical supervision. That is wrong. Our society cannot continue to export the problem or import a solution.

While the 12-week limit is in many ways unpalatable, it is the only option. It should be properly regulated; there should be proper interventions ahead of it, based on the combined wisdom of the practitioners, legislators and the debate that will ensue in this and the other House on safeguards, the provision of counselling, supports and so forth. When a woman is coming to a decision on what to do within the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy, there should be every possible intervention to give her the proper suite of options in making her choice and so forth. Whatever counselling and support structures are needed, their provision should as a matter of absolute priority be a requirement.

In this House we have to make hard decisions. Politics involves making hard decisions, showing leadership and stating our position. From whatever side they come, the true leaders in society are the ones who state their position and do not follow. We do not want followers in this or the other House, rather we want leaders. We are elected to be leaders. As difficult and challenging as the issue is and as sensitive as it is for many, I admire those who show leadership on the other side, as much as I do those on this side. In 2018 there is a need for respect. The debate needs to respect everybody's dignity. I heard stories in County Clare in the 1980s during the abortion and divorce referendums about a female Deputy being chased through the Burren by people on the pro-life side because she was campaigning not to have the eighth amendment inserted into the Constitution.That type of skulduggery cannot happen on any side. The debate so far has been respectful, unlike what happened during the debate on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act three or four years ago. I worry that might not continue. Leadership is about doing the right thing for all parties. The extremes on the pro-life and pro-choice sides need to have manners during the debate and treat the Irish people with respect.