Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There is a somewhat bizarre quality to this discussion. We have a number of Deputies who are advocating against this legislation, as narrow as its provisions are, yet at the same time expressing their dissatisfaction with a particular provision that is very much a reflection of the sanctity of the unborn, as set out in the Constitution. In other words, some of those who are advocating that the right to life of the unborn requires protection equivalent to that afforded to the right to life of the woman are now saying that if the life of the unborn is injured or taken, that action should somehow not be deserving of a prison sentence. As I said, that is bizarre.

We have to deal with the constitutional position. The reality, although I do not like it, is that the people voted for this in the eighth amendment. I spoke on Second Stage about my concerns that this provision would have a chilling effect on women. I have huge sympathy for the scenario outlined by Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. I am especially concerned that a situation might arise where a teenage girl, having taken medication she had obtained from the Internet without the supervision of a doctor, experiences a failed abortion and attendant complications. A young girl might in these circumstances be afraid to impart that information to medical professionals for far of criminal sanction. The fundamental difficulty in regard to section 22 is the constitutional provision regarding the equality of the right to life of woman and unborn child. It is strange that those who are advocating against the Bill should at the same time have huge difficulties with this section.