Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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I wish to clarify that I do not expect Ms McDermott to have the evidence. I know she is not medically or legally qualified, and that is not undermining her. However, we do have to take evidence into account. Ms McDermott said that abortion was a violent procedure, that it was a harrowing experience for the baby and that if people knew what it was they would not choose that option. We must be careful. The evidence would contradict that view. The medical evidence is that a foetus does not feel pain until after 24 weeks. We heard testimony of many instances of fatal foetal diagnosis where people who went to Liverpool had the baby delivered and were able to hold it, and they got solace from that. Of course, in the early stages, an abortion is just like a heavy period. That is uncomfortable, but it is not violent.