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

Yesterday evening there was an element of unreality about the discussion, with a number of Deputies painting a picture as if we were providing for the unleashing of an Irish abortion scenario that does not already exist. This amendment deals with issues of abortion where a woman has been impregnated as a result of rape or incest, or where she believes it is in her best interest to have an abortion. As a State and civilised society we should address the matter, as thousands of Irish women have abortions every year, although they do not have them in Ireland. There is a double hypocrisy as the State specifically provides and protects their right to have that abortion by allowing the right to information and to travel. There is an insult in saying that the procedure is allowed but not in this country; essentially, the woman must be driven from our shores in order to access it elsewhere.

We must address these issues as a modern society because Irish abortion exists for thousands of women and every family in the State in one way or another has been affected by this. This debate has gone on for months and at its end we will still have one of the most restrictive abortion regimes in Ireland, with 44 from 47 other countries still having greater access to abortion than this country. That does not mean the issue will go away for the women out there and we want to fly the flag in that regard. As a State we must acknowledge the position and move from what is a major symbolic step forward to putting some substance behind it and dealing with the repeal of the Eighth Amendment. That will allow us to address all the other issues. Given the Government's enthusiasm for constitutional referendums, there should be no problem to adding another to deal with these issues in the short term.

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