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

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 5, lines 19 and 20, to delete "Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018" and substitute "Health (Access to Healthcare by Women Seeking Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018".

We are of the view that the Long Title does not adequately reflect the overall purpose of the Bill. More importantly, it does not reflect the importance of the referendum vote that took place on 25 May. This should be about access because that is what people voted for on 25 May. As I said on Second Stage, the only reference to access in the Bill is in the offences section. I do not think people voted for access to be an offence. They voted for access because they want women to be in a position to avail of access. The amendment will not materially change a word that comes after it but it will show the intention of the legislation and its purpose, which is to ensure that women have access to terminations. I am interested to hear any arguments against it because, as is the case with all of my amendments - and I might as well say this at the outset - I believe it is very reasoned, fair, balanced and proportionate. On 25 May, people voted for access. They did not vote for access to be included only in the offences section.