Reverend Christopher Jones:

Senator Imelda Henry asked how would I respond to a mother whose child has become pregnant through rape. All of us understand this is a traumatic situation for a young girl and her family. It is dreadful. The only response I can suggest is that back in the 1970s I was asked by the bishops to establish the Cura agency. I wish I had time to explain to everyone present the success of this agency and its compassion over the years in helping girls through horrific situations. I do not have time to outline them. I have no doubt if I could bring such a young girl to the Cura agency counselling service it would help her enormously through the tragic crisis in her life.

We all want the violent person who committed that horrible crime to be brought to justice.

In keeping with our determination that every life is sacred, there is no circumstance in which the taking of a human life is justified. We claim that we must protect the innocent, voiceless and powerless unborn child in the womb. The solution of taking that life is no solution.

I refer to Senator Crown's question about why we are concerned that the introduction of abortion will lead to an escalation in time. In the light of our discussion, I ask members to reflect on a few matters, for example, Dr. Patricia Casey's research on the 79 deaths among 600,000 births in the three major Dublin hospitals. Two of those deaths were through postpartum suicide, that is, due to depression after birth.

Some made an excuse for England. Baron David Steel, the man who introduced the 1966 Bill in England, regrets having done so, given the escalation in the number of abortions in that country. Jane Roe who is responsible for the introduction of abortion in America is now a pro-life campaigner. We must listen to the evidence.