Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the facts given about Britain because they have been used and bandied about in the media. The argument is that the 1967 Act allows abortion under the suicide clause. That is not the case. Under the 1967 Abortion Act, 90% of the abortions are on the basis of ground C which deals with pregnancies under 24 weeks, where the continuation of a pregnancy involves a risk greater than if the pregnancy was terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the woman. Because it is always safer to have a termination in the early stages of pregnancy, rather than later, most abortions are granted using these criteria. It is not that people pretend to be suicidal as Deputies who are making the point are clearly implying. Suicide is a very tragic reality in our society and the issue should be adjudicated on by medical staff, not unqualified politicians.

Factual evidence, rather than just opinion, has been given indicating that where no abortion is permitted, 10% of women who commit suicide are pregnant at the time. Where there is not an option of abortion, evidence seems to suggest that the rate of suicide among pregnant women is higher.

Other issues have entered into the debate that are purely spurious. The idea that there would be a time limit is such an idea. This legislation is founded on the basis of medical intervention necessary to save a woman's life. If it is necessary to save the woman's life, that is the only show in town, the only decision to be made. Anything else is irrelevant. It is highly derogatory for Deputies to believe that women would go through the latter stages of pregnancy and then, at a whim, decide to pretend to be suicidal because they have suddenly changed their mind. This has no relationship with reality or the tragic, hard decisions that women who often choose abortions must make.

For all these reasons, the amendments are seriously unfounded, and we have stated why. I do not believe the way in which the Minister has dealt with this is ideal. He has put far too many restrictions in the legislation. There are amendments in this grouping that touch on the points we made on why the opinion of only two medical practitioners should be sought. A woman's general practitioner is eminently qualified to make the decision. This was included in our Bill last year. It is a psychiatrist that will make the determination, not a gynaecologist, obstetrician or other such practitioner. For all these reasons, I am vehemently opposed to not dealing with the issue of suicide. It is not because of anything the Supreme Court said, however. If one is unsure about this, one should note that the people had a choice to remove the suicide provision in 2002 but they decided to keep it, that it was valid and that suicidal ideation is certainly a threat to life that should be dealt with.

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