Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the decision not to retain Article 40.3.3°. I am particularly proud that it was Sinn Féin's Deputy Jonathan O'Brien who made the proposal this evening. It is fitting because I think the republican position would be to repeal Article 40.3.3°. Unfortunately, I am old enough to remember the original amendment. I was 17, it was my first vote and I voted against the proposal. I campaigned against it too and I remember how divisive it was at the time. I was accosted on a train because I was wearing a "Vote No" badge. The local postmaster, God bless him, a man in his 80s, chased me with a stick because I left leaflets campaigning for a "No" vote. I hope the votes next year will not be as divisive. Despite having a range of different opinions in the room, I am encouraged that most of us have decided genuinely to try to work towards consensus, to build towards the best decision we can make and to work constructively. That applies to almost all the members here today.

I also recognise that people are on a journey. Having listened to the evidence over the past number of weeks, there are two possibilities. One - the outlandish possibility - is that there is a giant medical conspiracy and that all these people got together somehow in a darkened room and decided to unleash abortion on us. The other is that these medical professionals, whose jobs are to care for women and babies, are telling us the truth, which is that there is a major problem with this amendment. Senator Mullen referred to a denial of human rights to a whole section of our society. We had that denial for 34 years. This amendment was always wrong. Thankfully, we now live in a changed time. All of us have to have the courage to continue to work constructively together and to listen to the evidence, which is so clear.

Sinn Féin also put forward a motion for straight repeal. That is our position. Again, as we understand and everyone is in the same place we are, we are happy to work constructively with the rest of our colleagues to try to reach the best decision possible. Let us be proud of taking one small step today. This committee is not a farce. Most of us are working constructively. I compliment the Chair on the work she is doing. Those making a farce of it are those dancing outside the gates of Leinster House when they should have been in here listening to evidence. Let us try to work together constructively. Let us accept that we will not agree on everything. Our position is clear. We believe in a straight repeal. We have heard enough already in terms of the various options, so I will not repeat those comments. Today is a good day. Let us try to make further progress.