Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is interesting how best practice internationally is being solidly ignored in this scenario. I cannot understand why. I gave the examples of New Zealand and Britain. In both countries doctors do not have to make arrangements but abortions happen. Access is not reduced, the law on conscientious objection does not prevent it, etc. We can get lost in ourselves on this issue when, in fact, there are systems functioning, not that I agree with them, in a way that people from the other side of the debate would want them to function without forcing other people to get involved in them. The conscientious objection of a doctor and a cleaner are equal.