Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 34:

In page 8, line 17, to delete “means physical or mental health” and substitute the following:“means a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.

This is important and I hope it is something we could agree on. The definition we are including for "health" includes the definition according to the World Health Organization 2012 safe abortion guidance. The WHO makes it clear that policy should aim to promote and protect the overall health of women. The amendment is in line with that definition. The idea is that health includes complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

This is something we discussed during the all-party committee proceedings. If we were to put that wording into the legislation, then it would be a clear signal that we are moving away from a criminal law situation to a health-focused and women-centred approach. It would go a long way to removing the chilling stuff. I believe it would be a positive and well-backed proposal.