Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming in. It is great to see such respect among all of us. We are all entitled to our view and everybody has a view. There is a sense during this debate that we must all align on a side of the fence but that is not how it should work. I do not subscribe to that way of thinking. I believe in the right to life for the unborn and I believe in democracy. I believe that we must protect the life of the child but that is my own opinion. I cannot silence another voice in the same way that I cannot silence a child. I cannot expect to have my own opinion and not allow others to have theirs. The people of the country deserve a referendum and I have said from the beginning that I believe in the referendum. I have my story and I have said it before. I had my first child at 20 weeks. I was a young woman. I never drank or smoked and still do not. She was 3 lb when she was born. She lost a pound and went down to 2 lb. She fought for her life. That is an experience that I will always live with. The question is why, as a young woman in my prime, perfectly healthy, very fit and having never drank and smoked, and who did everything right, did I carry a child to 20 weeks. I was told that there was no answer. I had a child who fought for her life. I was at the far side of it where I was a mother crying and devastated, and I thank God to this day that she is alive and healthy. As I said to the Minister, she herself is a nurse today. I have gone through that side of my story. My story will live with me and I will never be judge and jury to anyone. I will never ever judge. Whatever way people go through life, we can never judge another person and I cannot do that.

I have to say on behalf of Fianna Fáil that it has given members a free vote and, for me, it is a vote of conscience. That is what I believe in. I know that there will be a referendum and I know that Minister probably has his date nearly set. I will be very respectful of that but I have an issue and major concern.I have no issue with a referendum being held. The Irish people will always do the right thing and I would like to see them do that. However, I have a major concern with the wording of the legislation. It states to delete the following subsection from Article 40.3.3^oof the Constitution and to substitute that subsection with the following, "Provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy",which means up to 12 weeks. As a mother of four children and as someone who will never be judge and jury over anybody, I cannot in my heart agree to access to abortion up to 12 weeks. It is a personal choice. It is my opinion. I believe that everybody here is entitled to their own opinion. I will be very respectful of everyone here. I will respect what they say and their views. I am here tonight to give my view. That is my view as a mother of four. My daughter was born at 20 weeks. She was born eight weeks on from 12 weeks and weighed 3 lbs. Therefore, I have concerns.

I believe the Minister will have a referendum. I will be respectful of everybody but my concerns are different. We are here tonight to make sure that we represent everybody. I have my opinion but I will be respectful of other people's views. However, I still have concerns. I thank the Minister for coming into the House. I know he and his officials have all worked hard. We have heard horrific stories. I can understand people's choices but I have my opinion.