Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If we put medical evidence at the heart of this decision we see that abortion extinguishes the life of the child, often damages the life of the mother and actually increases maternal suicide. For the first time the decision to terminate an unborn child will not be based on objective medical markers but on subjective prediction with an accuracy level as low as 3%.

For me an outcome of this Bill which has not been properly debated is the fact the legislation will allow for abortion until birth. An unborn child, alive and kicking at 21 weeks in Ireland, who would have the protection of the law in liberal abortion regimes in Europe, will no longer have the same protection in Ireland. I am shocked the legislation will allow for a healthy unborn child on the cusp of viability to be brought to pre-term with the likely probability the child will be disabled by the State and possibly institutionalised for life. In fairness to the Minister for Health, on this specific issue he has acknowledged there will be damaged children as a result of the legislation and I hope I am quoting correctly what he stated on "The Week In Politics". Many people on the pro-choice side of the debate have contacted me to state while they want legislation on the substantive issue of the X case they cannot agree with the fact there are no term limits in the Bill and that forceable pre-term delivery will be possible with the likelihood of disability. There will be a referendum in the autumn on the future of the Seanad. With no burden to the State the issue of term limits could be put to a referendum and the Government could ask the question of the people.

I believe in political accountability. Deputies are responsible for their actions. If a politician cuts child benefit, he or she is responsible for pushing children into poverty. If a Deputy votes for abortion, the Deputy is responsible for what happens under the legislation. The State does not do nearly enough when it comes to mothers in crisis. We rightly talk about a youth guarantee but never about a mother and child guarantee, one whereby society guarantees that all mothers will have all medical and psychiatric support necessary to deal with their pregnancy and beyond, and whereby all woman will have every support necessary to feed, clothe, shelter, educate and raise their children.

Everybody will agree that one of the most shocking outcomes of the Oireachtas hearings on the planned abortion law was the widespread concern expressed by senior medical professionals that our maternity services are significantly under-resourced. If the Government was serious about supporting maternal life, it would be serious about maternity resources. Proportionally, abortion affects more women from poorer marginal sectors of society. Again, if the Government was serious about preventing abortion, it would be serious about preventing the socio-economic causes of abortion.

The 166 Deputies of the House will vote on the right to life of the unborn tomorrow. We will be asked to legislate on this issue and vote on it.

At the same time, we will be diluting that same right for the next generation.

There has been a debate in the Oireachtas as to whether this Bill will open the floodgates. What is an acceptable number of evidence-freeabortions? We are moving from a culture that seeks to save the life of the mother first and foremost and then the life of the child to one that allows for the direct ending of human life. Once we allow for abortion for non-medical reasons, it becomes increasingly difficult to oppose abortions for other difficult reasons. For those in the House who believe that this is the end of the road on the issue, my Labour colleagues will agree that this is only the start. Assurances from the Taoiseach can now be taken as seriously as his pre-2011 promises on the issue.

Many will be conflicted between their party loyalties, careers and consciences. Neither my career nor any Deputy's is worth a jot in comparison with the life of one mother and the life of one child. In articulating my views on abortion, I do not seek to judge anyone. I am in no position to do so. I simply seek a health service whose objective is to save life on each and every occasion.

See this speech in context