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

In respect of the refrain by the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, on the previous Bills put, the fact is that in one year the position has changed considerably in the State. First, there has been major education regarding fatal foetal abnormalities, as Deputies have just indicated. Second, the tragedy of Savita Halappanavar happened and educated everybody on the question of inevitable miscarriage. That has changed the level of consciousness in society and the Government should respond to it in its legislative programme. That is the issue.

The Minister of Health has given a definition of "unborn". What are the implications of this for medical treatments to procure an abortion in the very early weeks of implantation? What are the implications in respect of in vitro fertilisation? There are some implications and the Minister should spell them out now.

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