Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have no doubt we will do our best. I am happy to engage with and meet Deputies and to make officials available as we prepare for Report Stage and try to improve this section. There is a sense from the contributions that we can improve the section. What I do not intend to do, however, is deviate from the fundamental grounds on which abortion is legal in Ireland to a new set of grounds on which the people did not vote. I know they did not vote on the wording but they voted with knowledge of the general scheme. I am endeavouring to get that balance right but also to ensure we make provisions to protect women in circumstances where there may be forced abortions and where women may be intimidated or forced into having illegal terminations of pregnancy in much more dangerous circumstances. There could be a situation, for example, of domestic or sexual abuse where a vulnerable woman or young person could be coerced into agreeing an illegal termination of pregnancy without any medical assistance, perhaps for sinister reasons. There is a need to protect women from these difficult situations. I am happy to engage with people on whether we have got the balance right but this is how I am approaching the matter.