Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The reason I ask is that some, though not all, of the stories, including Ms McDermott's, refer to very directive counselling, or whatever word one wants to call it. I have just two questions for her. First, will she bring us up to date on the experience her members have had in reporting this and how it was dealt with? That level of directive counselling is not provided for within the law. These are very serious matters. Ms McDermott talks about conversations that have happened within her earshot and she refers to women who felt, or were, compelled to abort babies. That kind of directive instruction should never happen and is not allowable.

I imagine it made those women feel extremely angry and upset.

Would Ms McDermott not agree that any woman who chooses not to go down that road also has the right to feel angry and upset if she is prevented from making the choice that she feels she should? If a woman in this jurisdiction who simply cannot continue with a pregnancy is compelled to go through with it, would Ms McDermott not accept that those women also have the right to feel angry and upset that they have been forced into that situation? Two wrongs do not make a right. It is not right to compel a woman to terminate a pregnancy, but a woman has a right to feel angry if she is compelled to continue with a pregnancy. We have heard descriptions and personal evidence from women here and from one woman in particular, Claire Cullen-Delsol, and the post traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, experienced, a very serious medical condition that can occur as a direct result of being compelled to continue with a pregnancy. Would Ms McDermott not agree that those women have the right to feel angry and upset just as other women do who feel they were compelled in any way?