Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I take the points Deputy O'Connell has made and I will be happy to consider them further before Report Stage. We are bringing in a range of heads that provide opportunities for women to safely, legally and freely access abortion services up to 12 weeks without specific indication. I will make a point that may not be for the debate on the Bill but is part of discussions taking place in other rooms in respect of clinical guidelines, public communications to women about services and where to access them, the 24-7 helpline and so on. As a country, we should be able to move into an era in which, far from women being silenced as the Deputy alluded to, it will be a normal part of the public health service to have accessible information on abortion from medical professionals, not just in the hospital or community setting but also on a 24-7 helpline.

I very much get what the Deputy is trying to do here. The language, which is based on legal advice, is endeavouring to ensure that we provide protection in cases of forced abortion or intimidation of a woman, where somebody is encouraged to use an illegal service rather than the legal and safe service. I take the point about the language and I am committed to working with the Deputy to see if we can make progress.