Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will ask all the questions if that is okay. I want to ask any witnesses who want to answer about whether they believe we need to decriminalise abortion so that the person who is a victim of crime, who has been raped or sexually assaulted, does not also have to become a criminal if travelling for abortion or taking an abortion pill. Do the witnesses have a view on that? Somebody has asked about the issue of decriminalisation at nearly all of our meetings. How does the experience for women who have to go to England and are effectively described as criminals affect people?

Some statistics were given by the Rape Crisis Network to the Citizens' Assembly. To respond to Deputy Fitzpatrick, I think the percentage who went on and completed their pregnancies was as high as those who had a termination. I am not sure if it is the same in the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. In effect, what we are discussing here is options rather than forced terminations. I know a judgmental question was asked of the witnesses there but it is important to state that we are not saying the witnesses would force anyone to have a termination.

Will Mr. O'Malley elaborate on other countries? He was saying that in countries where there is not a general right to access early termination, in some cases, one has to prove it which does not work because of the time the court case takes. Sometimes, there is an acceptance of the woman's word. Does Mr. O'Malley have anything further to say on that?