Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This touches on all sections and all the amendments without exception. We must get this right. We are not obliged to legislate for the Constitution. That was well put. Deputy Timmins rightly said that we would be all fools to ignore the reality of what psychiatrists tell us and that they said they are being put into a naturally repugnant dilemma whereby if a woman is distressed, and my compassion goes out to her, to the point that she says she does not want any of the care pathways, and she is entitled to do so, the psychiatrists must conduct what was referred to as the gatekeeper exercise, whereby they certify jointly that there is a continuing real intent on committing suicide and a risk. The only way to avoid it for the mother is to allow legally a lawful termination that, if it occurs in week 15 or week 16, is certain death to the little baby and is damage if it occurs in week 16 through to week 23 and beyond. We are in bad territory. We should stop. We are looking over the edge of a very steep cliff and we, as a people, should stop.

It is a disgrace that the debate is trundling on until 5 a.m. The people of Ireland deserve better. We should be sleeping on what we have heard today, listening more, reading more and having open minds and fresher minds with clearer thinking tomorrow, the next day or the day after. Is it not tragic that in France women did not have the vote until after the Second World War? That was really bad. Only 30 years later, they legislated for abortion for the first time. Today, girls in France can go to their GPs and have lawful abortions without their parents' knowledge. Some 25% of all pregnancies in France end in abortion at the moment.

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