James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A range of views have been expressed and I have responded to all of them. I have made it clear that we cannot be prescriptive in medicine and that a psychiatrist has described the Bill as a pathway to care. It would not be useful to repeat our discussion. This is the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill. The phrase "protection of life" refers to the mother and the unborn.

I respect all of the views expressed here this evening and during the course of this Bill. Equally, I accept they are held in good conscience and good faith. However, I also respect the women of this country, the mothers of the next generation and the professionals who look after them. As I said earlier, that should be our starting point here. I believe this Bill brings the clarity required to the women of this country so that they can know what services they are entitled to and, most importantly, how to access them. It also brings the clarity and certainty the medical and nursing professions need in order to deliver the services they are obliged to deliver and to know what is legal to deliver.

I cannot accept the amendments proposed and will oppose them. I ask the House to do so.

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