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

Returning to the earlier part of this discussion, I asked the Minister, Deputy Reilly, if he still holds to the advices he has received that there are no other means of address legislatively for this very tragic situation for some women. Others will make the choice, as is their choice, to proceed to full term. It is those women for whom it is a nightmare and a torment every day.

It is important that we have clarity here. It is what the Bill is supposed to be all about. Is it the case, based on all of the advices at the Minister's disposal, that this can only be addressed by revisiting Article 40.3.3°? I am anxious to know whether that is the case because that is the advice we were given. In dealing with this, I have had to be guided by my party's policy on the broad issue. This policy was updated in 2008 and has been reaffirmed each year since, including this year. Fatal foetal abnormality was not an issue that was addressed in that context at that time. Sadly, it merely was not part of the parlance or of the issues of debate and discussion. Therefore, as with every other political party, there are views this way and there are views that way, and without the certainty of policy, it puts me in a very difficult position. However, I have articulated my own view internally and I am sharing it with colleagues here. I am anxious to see the matter addressed and I would be most concerned if the message we were receiving and redistributing out of this discourse was that there was no likelihood of an early address of these issues. That is a very sad message indeed. Is there anything that either Minister can add or offer at this point in time?