Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for attending. The terminology "abortion on demand" has been used here today a couple of times. I want to tease that out a bit from the perspective of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. When it is spoken about, as it has been here today, I suppose the question is: on demand by whom? I would see it as being the woman who may potentially be "demanding" the abortion. Would the witnesses have an issue with that sort of terminology in the sense of it then being a question of who has a right to block that woman's right? Do they understand where I am coming from? If we are using terminology which suggests a woman can demand an abortion if she feels like it, has the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission any view on who might be the judge and jury in such a situation? While I may not be explaining myself well, the witnesses might be able to give me some answer on how they feel about that.

Another point raised here today is that the eighth amendment has saved so many lives. If somebody is prohibited from travelling for either financial or other reasons to another country, would the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission see it as a good thing that women are prevented from travelling abroad to seek abortion and, therefore, we have all these children who, allegedly, are alive as a result?

The witnesses referred to the question of health versus life. I know neither of the witnesses are medical professionals, or perhaps they are, but they are not here in that capacity. Have they heard any evidence, when coming up with their documents, about what sort of health issues we are talking about? What springs to my mind is high blood pressure, preeclampsia, the risk of stroke and the risk, therefore, of permanent disability to the woman as opposed to death. Perhaps the witnesses could elaborate on that sort of terminology.

Finally, to give my own view, and I do not expect the witnesses to agree or disagree, as public representatives in a public forum such as this, we have to be very careful of listing out the gestational progression of the foetus within the womb. Untruths have been put out here today, things that are not factually correct. I am very concerned about the public looking on and putting a certain weight or gravity to comments of elected members who are just putting out lies. It is very serious for this committee's work. Reference was also made to these botched abortions which I hear being spoken about. Again, there is absolutely evidence to suggest this. I know Deputy McGrath has left the room. I think it is very concerning and not helpful to the committee's work if people are somehow, wherever they are getting this information from, not checking it before they put it into the public domain. I would like to put that on the record today.