Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Adams. There is no question or intent in any circumstance for an opening, as they say, for abortion on demand in this country. The Government is required to act in accordance with the Constitution. We are required to act within the parameters as set out and the legal implications of the X case. In the three areas, where there is either a medical emergency or an issue in a pregnancy where there is a real and substantial risk to the life of the mother as opposed to her health, the procedure in so far as personnel is set out there, as it is also in regard to the area of self-destruction where there must be clearly a unanimous decision and, because there are two lives involved, an obstetrician and gynaecologist is one of the persons involved.

As Deputy Adams stated, many of the comments made have been disrespectful to women. After all, we trust the women of this country. It is a compassionate country. This is an area that requires thorough, comprehensive, understanding and sensitive debate, and I hope that will happen during the course of this.

The Deputy asked when it will come before the House. The committee of which Deputy Buttimer is chairman will receive the heads of the Bill. I understand they will hold a meeting tomorrow about the structure of how the chairman will propose to hold that debate. I urge everybody who has an interest in this in the Oireachtas to participate in the structure that the chairman will set out. Clearly, when the committee deals with this business, it will come back to Government and the Bill will be prepared and will be debated here in the House. As I stated earlier, I would hope that the Bill can be enacted, to bring clarity and certainty to this area after 30 years, before the House rises for the summer period. Over the years when Deputy Michael McGrath's party was in office, it offered the people two opportunities to reflect on this by way of referendum and the people made their decision clear in each case. We are now acting on the Constitution and within those legal constraints. There are no new rights being inferred here, but legal clarity and certainty for women. It is about saving lives - the lives of mothers and the lives of their unborn babies.

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