Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not know where to start with this. I am appalled at the tone of what appears to be an additional part of the Bill that was never flagged to the public at all in the course of the referendum. When the public voted, they certainly did not do so on the basis of these kinds of conditions. I have serious doubts about its admissibility because there was no discussion of this nature, nor could there have been one, without causing serious reaction from all free-minded and free-thinking people. It is extremely old fashioned. If I were a woman, I would object strongly to being in the control of a system over which I had no control whatsoever. Going right back to the 1950s or 1940s, not even then were women relegated to the extent proposed in this additional section to the Bill.

There are references made to a digital video disc, DVD. I presume it is similar to the DVD sent to all Members of the Oireachtas over the past number of years. Perhaps it is and perhaps it is not. If it is, then I object strongly to it because it was obscene in the same way that pornography is obscene. I could not understand why people would want to send that type of material, apart from frightening the life out of the women of the country. I cannot understand why they would want everyone to have a copy of that DVD. If one's own family and children, aged under or over 18, were to receive copies of this kind of material they would be shocked. It would be psychologically damaging to them to feel they had to undergo this kind of propaganda.

There is also another element to this with references to adoption. I support the legitimate adoption societies that have been involved in providing and facilitating adoptions for people for many years. I do, however, object strongly to a woman being coerced into a situation whereby, at a most vulnerable time in her life, she is being fed information stating she will be looked after and she need not worry if she follows the directions of the DVD and its providers. That is the message and it is a dangerous one. It is taking over the souls, hearts and minds of more than 50% of the population. If people think that is alright, then on their own consciences be it. It can and will, however, have serious consequences. It will take the country back 60 or 70 years. I am not finished yet but I will finish shortly.

This amendment then goes on to say that the "the Health Service Executive shall monitor the website referred to in subsection (7)on a weekly basis to prevent and correct tampering".