Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last week I asked the Taoiseach on the Order of Business when we could expect the protection of maternal life Bill emanating from the work of the expert group which worked on the A, B and C cases. He indicated that the legislation would be introduced in the House this week. I understand he said earlier that it is now under active consideration.

The Taoiseach might indicate whether a Government Minister spoke to The Sunday Times on the Bill and gave the information on the Spanish inquisition-type approach to a suicidal woman requesting a termination. How did the detail of the legislation get to The Sunday Times? That kind of leaking is making a complex and sensitive situation worse and is not helpful to the entire process. For the past 48 hours, people have been talking about nothing else but the information contained in The Sunday Times. The Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, did not deny it as such. If one reads his statement carefully, it is a nuanced explanation of what would not happen as opposed to what is in the legislation. Are the heads of the Bill ready to be published? I think the Taoiseach indicated last week that it would be forwarded to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children and that it would be published this week. Will it be published this week or next week? Will the Taoiseach update the House on when it can expect it?

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