Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I did not say that; I said Ireland is one of the safest countries in the world for pregnant women. What happened to Savita was an awful tragedy. I know of people outside Ireland who think Ireland is not a safe place for women to be pregnant. It is one of the safest places in the world for pregnant women and has been over the past 30 years. The picture the witness is painting is that because of our laws and restrictions, Ireland is not a safe place for pregnant women. That is the impression I am getting, but consistently over the past 30 years Ireland has been one of the safest places in the world for women to be pregnant. Does the witness have the same perception as I have? No country is perfect. For me and for women who are pregnant, Ireland is one of the safest countries in the world in which to have babies.