Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat. I thank all who participated over the past three days of hearings. I do not exaggerate when I say that this has been an intense and sometimes gruelling engagement. In particular, I commend the Chairman and members of the Oireachtas joint committee who very responsibly faced the task that was set. The process has been and will continue to be challenging for many of us. It has been a necessary engagement and, as described by one of the participants, an exercise in democracy.

The hearings have helped to tease out and clarify a number of issues related to the heads of the Bill. This has not been about trying to get some Members of the Oireachtas across the line, as portrayed by some sections of the media. The media's focus, and I mean no disrespect to any of them, on Oireachtas voices who hold strong rejectionist views of the Bill, many of whom are not members of the committee, has overshadowed the hard work and dedication of committee members from all parties. Real questions and deep concerns have been addressed here, and that is positive. No one should be surprised that consensus has not emerged among all of the medical and legal voices. Among them, as much as any section of society, there are diverse views on the question of abortion.

That said, I believe there is now a very widely held view, and I would say it is a majority view, in society that legislation along the lines set out in the heads of the Bill is not only necessary but long overdue. Implementation of the X case judgment and legislation in compliance with the A, B and C case judgment are required as soon as possible. We must safeguard the lives of women. We must provide legal clarity. We must ensure there are clear guidelines for clinicians. Some have argued that these conditions already exist. I would argue, and Sinn Féin has long argued, that is not the case and, hence, we need the legislation.

Much of the focus of these hearings, and public discussion generally, has been on the inclusion in the heads of the Bill of the threat to the woman's life through suicide. That is understandable. All aspects of that question have been thoroughly explored. Varying views have been given but the time for decision is approaching. While the anticipated incidence of its employment is thankfully very low, it is our view that it must remain in the Bill. It is a pity the suicide aspect has dominated discussion. It has tended to obscure the other vital and important elements of the Bill and other much more prevalent, commonplace and likely threats to the lives of women in pregnancy. Do the heads of the Bill go far enough to protect women in that regard? That is a question we must all, individually and collectively, address.

We must move on. The Government needs to publish the Bill. It needs to be progressed through the Oireachtas. Sinn Féin will assess the published Bill in light of its party policy and the questions, answers and issues raised during the hearings and in the wider debate. We will engage on each Stage of the Bill's passage. We are committed to ensuring the strongest possible protections are in place.