Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I refer to amendments Nos. 49 and 61. On Second Stage, I spoke of my concerns on section 9, while supporting section 8. Following my speech on Second Stage, I met the Taoiseach informally at a constituency function. He took the time genuinely to go through my concerns. In that regard, I appreciate and fully accept his bona fides, and those of the Minister, in terms of the tightness of this legislation. However, I expressed on Second Stage my concern about the looseness of some of the language and that those who do not share their bona fides may use this for purposes which the Minister may not intend.

In my amendments, Nos. 49 and 61, where it is stated in sections 8(1) and 9(1) that an unborn life is ended, I propose a change from "is ended" to "may be ended", so that a termination does not become the default option by virtue of language and words used and therefore become the expressed default for treatment in the cases. This is a minor change and I ask the Minister to consider it. Deputy Naughten referred to the same point when he said the intentions of those in the Chamber tonight might be completely different from how the law will be interpreted in 15 or 20 years' time. We must ensure tonight and subsequently in the Seanad that we tighten the language so that the intentions of those who are proposing this Bill, and using those intentions to give assurances to those opposing sections of the Bill, will remain clear.

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