Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I cannot see if Senator McGreehan is on campus. We can come back to her.

I refer to the point Senator Ruane made. She has me thinking now about it. It is true. As part of this process you are expected to come here, tell us your stories and be the perfect women, mothers and parents. It must be a very difficult place to be, to fight for what should be rights for your children and truly bare your souls. However, part of this process is that there is a major lack of understanding, and I speak for myself here. I came into this role not fundamentally knowing what the issues were, although one would hear a few tidbits here and there. There are many misconceptions and a lack of understanding there. It is a learning experience for us. I thank you because it is important that we hear about your lived experiences not only in this format here but also in a general public format. It is important we do that.

I do not have any other questions. My one question was about the ethical framework and the huge responsibility placed on you to do it in a way that everyone would deem acceptable. However, that is not your responsibility. It is the responsibility of legislators to make sure there is a regulatory system so that every parent who goes into it knows what the expectations are, and to have a set of guidelines for them so they can work through that.

My other questions have been covered. Is there anything you wish to add? I am mindful that we need to listen. Is there anything in particular you would like to cover? Then, unless there are other questions, we will conclude with Senator Seery Kearney.