John Crown (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is singularly disingenuous to state that there has been a considered, unanimous body of opinion on the basis of evidence-based medicine, which tells us that suicidality will never be an issue which could be addressed by termination of a pregnancy. There has been a spectrum of opinions. I live by consensus medical opinions and the development of evidence-based medical guidelines, and we have not had it. The thing that is most extraordinary to me is that two people who have come here today as constitutional lawyers, can in their submissions and writings discuss this issue and never mention the fact that we have had two referenda.

In 1992, the question that was put to the people in a referendum was utterly clear cut. It was: do we exclude suicide or not? The answer was utterly clear cut - it was two to one. There was no ambiguity about this.

In 2002, in a highly nuanced and more controversial and complicated referendum proposition, which included other issues, the decision was closer but it was still carried by the people. I would like to know by what authority do those who believe we should thumb our noses at the Constitution of this land, think we should act in contravention of the Constitution, in excluding suicide from a Bill where we have been mandated by the highest definitive court in the land, and twice by the people, not to exclude it?