Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

Like the Taoiseach, the Minister's response to the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar is utterly inadequate. There is prima facie evidence which makes a powerful case that her life could have been saved with the termination of her unviable pregnancy. The Minister had a prepared script but now I ask him to answer the questions that are being put. Are there hospitals in this State whose ethos denies a termination to a woman in these circumstances, where her life is in danger? Is that the case? What action will the Minister take? Will he instruct the HSE to instruct each hospital, forthwith, to provide all medical procedures, including terminations, where a woman's life is in danger? When will the Minister publish the expert group's report? I ask him to give us a date, now that he has the report. When will he publish legislation providing for this? I again appeal to men and women, young and old, all over this country, to mobilise immediately to secure the necessary action from the Government.

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