Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Some of these points were made on Second Stage and have been made subsequently. There was a difference between what the committee on the eighth amendment recommended - if we are concerned about following the committee's lead when it suits- and what this states. The bar is being raised by using the term "serious harm" as opposed to "risk to health". It is a bit frustrating for those of us who spent quite a lot of time on that committee and put a lot of work in. The committee thrashed it all out and had a public debate. People watched those committee meetings, which they would not normally. We are here, and people went on a journey and Deputies changed their opinions. Why come back with something that is raising the bar when the term "risk to health" covered a multitude in that it is so subjective? All the doctors said one health risk can quickly lead to another health risk. All of the points have been made and they were made on the record. This should be changed. People voted on the basis of the term "risk to health". In all of the polling, health was centre stage, for years before we even had a debate. The people were ahead of politicians on this for a long time.

It is dangerous if one starts to raise the bar. Risk to health should be sufficient. We should go back to what the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution agreed.