Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have the opportunity to add my voice to the comments and observations of a number of people who have moved amendments, including my party colleague, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, and the Minister of State, Deputy Lucinda Creighton. In many ways, their contributions anticipate what other Members have to say generally on the issue.

Section 9 is where the real problem exists in the Bill. If the Government agrees to remove section 9 from the Bill, its passage will be relatively easy. That is what is needed. The arguments against the provisions in the section are compelling. We have heard them in the past half hour. There was no psychiatric evidence provided in the context of the original Supreme Court decision. A decision was taken in the X case without the benefit of necessary psychiatric evidence. The reflections and review of the decision by retired Supreme Court judge, Hugh O'Flaherty, are very interesting in the context of today's discussion. Section 9 is not required to be included in the legislation. If the motivation and spur to bring forward the legislation is the unfortunate case of Savita Halappanaver in Galway, the old principle that hard cases make bad law should be remembered. Section 9 provides for no time limit on abortion within the gestation period, which is horrendous. I hope the House will not come to regret its decision if the section is voted through tonight. It will provide in law for something we may regret for a very long time in terms of its impact on humanity.

It has been interesting to read and reflect in recent times on the observations of Lord David Steel, who introduced abortion legislation in the United Kingdom in 1967. If he were brought in as an adviser to the Government, he would give advice which would be contrary to the provisions in the Bill. I will not traverse the ground which has been covered more than adequately by previous speakers on the section. I simply exhort and encourage the Minister to reflect on what he is providing for in section 9. I hope he will. If the debate and the decision on the legislation were postponed to allow for an 11th hour Government meeting on the removal of section 9, the Irish people would be very grateful.

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