Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom fáilte mór a chur roimh an Aire. I welcome the Minister and I thank him for his presence for this important debate. I acknowledge the work of the Oireachtas joint committee under Senator Noone and the hours, days and weeks members put in to educating and informing themselves about all the issues, regardless of which side of the debate they stood on. This is a private, personal, sensitive and complex matter. Many people to whom I have spoken about it are confused and unsure about how they will vote. It is important that people on all sides are respectful and tolerant of all views and that they are not judgmental about the other side. The tone of contributions is important in order that they are tolerant or respectful of views that they might not necessarily agree with.

I was advised by a man a long time ago always to be conscious that when one meets someone along the road, one does not know what burden he or she is carrying. In many ways, the debate on this issue is similar because when we discuss it with people, we do not know what journey they have been on and how that journey they have undertaken has shaped their views. The issue is filling much media space, both in newspapers and elsewhere, but the majority of people have yet to engage fully with the debate. It is important that they be given time and space to make their minds up without any of us, regardless of how we feel, banging on their door to tell them what we are doing. Reasonable and respectful arguments are being made on both sides and everyone wants to do what they feel is right for women, children and families. There is no right or wrong in this case. It is entirely up to the individual to do what they see fit and I fully respect that.

Regrettably, the issue of young women with crisis pregnancies has not received much attention during the debate. They feel along, vulnerable and unsure of which road to take. We should hang our heads in shame, as a society, that we have allowed such a situation to develop and all of us should reflect on the fact that more time and space was not given to implement supports for those who find themselves in that position.

I have found this a difficult and challenging issue and I have thought long and hard about how I will vote. I have spoken to many people on both sides with a view to educating and informing my opinion. Though different from the people I alluded to earlier, my decision is based on my life experience up to this point. I will vote against the Bill. I refer to our nearest neighbours in England and Wales where abortion was introduced in 1967. A total of 22,000 abortions took place in the first year but that figure had increased to 110,000 four years later. In 2016, the figure had increased to more than 200,000. That equates to an abortion every three minutes. In England, a reason has to given and 98% of abortions were given for social reasons. Of those, 37% were repeat abortions. I spoke to a married couple recently who have three children and they explained that during one of those pregnancies, the consultant advised them that the child would be dead whenever it was born and seriously suggested that they consider an abortion. They thought long and hard about that and decided to go ahead with the birth. That child is three years of age today, and when I listened attentively to what both parents said about the joy the child has brought to their lives and the lives of their other two children, I was touched by it.One woman told me that in her opinion, if a womb had a window, there would be fewer abortions.

I fully respect the fact that people in this Chamber and elsewhere throughout the length and breadth of this country will not agree with my opinion. I am perfectly comfortable with that. In my opinion, far from being negative, the eighth amendment is the only protection the unborn has and I would be very reluctant to remove that fundamental right to life from our Constitution.