Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will ask some questions first to gain a little clarity in the context of the amendments, and I await the Minister's reply.

As we all will be aware, we are obliged inside here to uphold the Constitution. First and foremost, Article 40.3.3° is quite clear. We must vindicate the right of the unborn as well. I think we must bring it back and I want clarity from the Minister. Are there age limits on this? Is there an age limit as to when a woman decides to procure abortifacients on the Internet? What about, for example, a 14 year old girl who is pregnant? A cursory Google search on the Internet can secure abortifacient tablets. One hit describes how one takes them, it describes the side-effects, it describes the nausea feelings, it describes the bleeding, but then it goes further. I am asking a question as opposed to making a statement here. It then goes on to advise, if there are complications, if there is heavy bleeding and if it does not stop after three or four hours, that one should go to a doctor. I point this out for a reason. If, for example, there is a young pregnant girl in this country who for whatever reason cannot continue with the pregnancy and cannot tell her parents, who is alone, isolated and vulnerable, and she gets onto Women on Waves, the website I hit when I googled a while ago, and she procures the tablets and takes them, in the event that there are any complications arising and she presents to a doctor eventually, I have two questions: Could she be prosecuted under section 22(1), which states "It shall be an offence to intentionally destroy unborn human life."; and is there an obligation on medical professionals to bring that particular issue to the attention of the authorities in terms of informing An Garda Síochána, which, I assume, would pass the matter on to the Director of Public Prosecutions? In this debate, I have never channelled myself as either pro-life or pro-choice, but I genuinely think this is an important question for a number of reasons.

The sanction of 14 years will not deter a 14 year old girl who is pregnant from securing tablets over the Internet. I accept there is an obligation to vindicate the right of the unborn, but this will not deter her. What it could deter her from is accessing medical care in the event of a serious complication because the website to which I referred - and many others as there are hundreds of them - also states that there could be haemorrhaging and bleeding and that could cause further complications and that one should seek medical help. For many reasons, I would appreciate clarity on that.

One should reflect on whether a 14 year old could possibly be prosecuted under the Bill and sentenced to 14 years in prison because she was in absolute fear because she was pregnant with nobody to tell for whatever reasons. That is something on which we in this House should reflect as well, but I await the Minister's reply.

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