Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The statistics given by Dr. Sedgh were very useful. They included the statistic that the majority of abortions are requested by married women, that more than half of women are between 20 and 29 years old, that most women who have abortions have at least one other child and that most abortions happen by the ninth week. These are very important scientific statistics that show that there is a lot of myth from those who oppose people's right to abortion in this country. We stick out like a sore thumb on the map, as an island isolated from the rest of Europe in this area.

Dr. Sedgh said we had no way of knowing exactly what the statistics are for Irish women seeking abortions abroad. Many Irish women go to Britain but many of them do not give Irish addresses and this is probably also true of Irish women who go to Holland. We have no way of gathering real statistics around women, abortion and this country. Dr. Sedgh is not a health professional but she informs health professionals. Does she, as a scientist, believe that not having absolutely correct and full statistical knowledge of how abortion impacts on Irish women is not a good thing for the health of Irish women? Does she believe that it is not good from the point of view of getting a full picture of the full reproductive health of Irish women or for informing ourselves as legislators?

As a scientist, does Dr. Sedgh believe it is unhealthy not to have knowledge of the full statistics?

I have questions for Ms Hoctor about the availability of abortion services. She talked about the stress and distress caused in having to leave one's country to have an abortion elsewhere, regardless of the reasons involved. As the doctor showed, there is a huge variety of reasons women seek to terminate a pregnancy. Having to leave one's country and suffer distress is a big issue when it comes to where Ireland falls down in protecting women's rights and, therefore, compensating them. Can Ms Hoctor add to that aspect? Importantly, statistics here prove that socioeconomic reasons are another huge factor for women. In other words, if one is poor or does not have the financial resources required, one will often, as the doctor said, be subject to procuring an abortion much later rather than as early as possible in the pregnancy. One is also put under much more stress and strain by having to get onto an aeroplane or a ferry and stay overnight in accommodation. On top of this, one cannot take one's partner or pal along because that would cause further stress and financial strain. Does Ms Hoctor think the socioeconomic reasons we are considering in women seeking to have an abortion are a big element in terms of the countries that allow women to access abortion services?