Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I thank both witnesses for contributing. It would be difficult for anybody to listen to what they had to say. Nobody, including myself, would have even considered some of the details and how harrowing it must have been, particularly for somebody who wants to go through with the abortion but cannot for practical reasons. That is not widely known in Ireland. Awareness about fatal foetal abnormality and foetal abnormality, which is as serious, has increased over the past number of years with people such as them speaking out in the national media.

How did they feel when two Bills were voted down that might have allowed for fatal foetal abnormality to be dealt with even within the confines of the eighth amendment? We have been told that it is necessary to repeal or at least amend the amendment to provide for this vital health issue. The presentation refers to the time limit proposed by the Citizens' Assembly. We are here to deal with the assembly's report. It was hugely sympathetic to the view that there must be change on this issue and it overwhelmingly voted in favour. Would it be fair to say the assembly did not have sufficient time to hear evidence about the difficulties of imposing a 22-week limit? Termination for Medical Reasons Ireland did not get an opportunity to testify, which is one of the reasons we were anxious to bring the group before the committee. Should there not be any time limit? Should it be indefinite? Will the witnesses elaborate on that?

Last week, I asked Peter Boylan a question about late term or post-23 week abortions that we hear a great deal about from people who are opposed to abortion in general. It tends to be the image that is presented, which must be upsetting for those who have had to go through that. He made the point that they probably accounted for 1% of abortions. The issue of a time limit, therefore, would arise rarely.

I would like them to comment on another issue but it is entirely up to them. Reference has been made during previous meetings to Canada and this notion of botched abortions and babies being left to die, which must have been upsetting for people to hear. The organisation feels strongly about this and I wonder whether the witnesses would care to comment. I gather from people who have experienced this that sometimes they have been abused on social media by people who oppose abortion. Would they like to comment on that?