Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 6, to delete lines 27 to 29, and substitute the following:

“4. (1) The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.

(2) No public moneys shall be provided by the Oireachtas to pay for the carrying out of a termination of pregnancy in accordance with this Act, other than a termination of

pregnancy in accordance with section 10 or 11 in a case where there is a risk to the life of the pregnant woman.”.

This amendment was tabled arising from the high volume of calls and correspondence I received from people who are genuinely concerned, taxpayers who voted "Yes" and "No" in the referedum. Recent research carried out by Amárach showed the majority of taxpayers were opposed to funding abortion; indeed, 44% of those opposed were "Yes" voters. At a time when our health service is creaking at the seams, with September figures indicating 8,000 people were on trolleys, 718,000 people waiting to be seen or treated by a doctor and children having to wait 18 months for scoliosis treatment, the injection of €12 million as a starting point for elective abortion services is unacceptable. As an elected representative, I have to highlight my constituents' concerns. I will be bringing this amendment to Report Stage.