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

The intent of the amendment is to make very slightly less onerous a massively onerous provision affecting a woman who presents in this acute situation. We should call on the Minister of State to recognise that the provisions in his Bill for three practitioners at the first stage, and three again at the review stage, present an obstacle course to women in a very difficult and traumatic situation which will not be faced by the vast majority of people. Women in a dreadful, traumatic mental predicament in respect of a crisis pregnancy will not be able to find a remedy in this State. That is the reality of the situation and the Minister of State should be honest and admit that. It is a mechanism to ensure that a woman suffering in this situation will be forced out of the country rather than face the barrage that is provided in this legislation, which is simply inhuman and the complete opposite to compassion for somebody in this very difficult situation.

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