John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will make a few brief points. I have listened to Dr. Boylan and I know he demands great respect, particularly among women. Nonetheless, I cannot help but think he has pressed all the appropriate buttons in his contribution today that frighten people, particularly in the context of women's health and the hard-fought gains therein. He is frightening them over the independence of the hospital when there are particular clauses guaranteeing independence over budgetary, clinical and operational running of the hospital. They cannot be interfered with and are guaranteed in the constitution of the hospital. He knows that.

Another element that disturbs me is the subliminal reference gesture to Roe v.Wade. Dr. Boylan did not mention them by name. We are all very mindful of what has happened in the United States. The reference to a conservative Minister appointing a conservative board cannot apply here. We have a Constitution which is very clear on the role of the Minister. It states, "the executive power of the State shall, subject to the provisions of the Constitution, be exercised by or on the authority of the Government". The right to termination is enshrined in the Constitution. No matter how conservative a Minister is, he or she simply cannot do that under our Constitution. Dr. Boylan knows that. This is what disappoints me most about his contribution. He has pressed buttons that he knows will frighten people. I have pointed out two of them and there are more. They are simply not based on fact.