Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In recent weeks the issue of abortion has dominated the headlines once again. News broke that a migrant woman, pregnant as a result of rape, was denied access to an abortion under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act, even though she clearly expressed the desire to die rather than to carry the pregnancy to term. How can the Government stand over the manner in which this woman was dealt with by the State? Does the Minister agree this amounts to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment? If a woman whose case bears some similarity to the X case cannot access an abortion under this legislation, how can we expect any woman whose life is at risk because of her pregnancy to have confidence in the system? It is not fit for purpose as we warned during the debate.

The UN Human Rights Committee characterised the panel system for assessing pregnant women at risk of suicide as mental torture. Why would any vulnerable woman put herself through this if she has the means to travel abroad for a safe and legal abortion? This case will terrify those who cannot travel. The State took steps to force a rape survivor to continue with her pregnancy against her will. It sought court orders to hydrate her forcibly against her will. This is frightening. Even before we heard about this latest horrific case, the UN Human Rights Committee expressed serious concern about the severe mental suffering caused by the denial of abortion services to women seeking abortions due to rape, incest, fatal foetal abnormality or serious risk to health. What are the Government's plans to address the UN recommendation that Ireland should revise this legislation and the Constitution, to provide for access to abortion in these cases?

Will the Government continue to ignore Ireland's obligations under the international covenant on civil and political rights? During the UN hearings in Geneva, the State acknowledged that Irish abortion law discriminates against women who are unable to travel abroad. How can the Government stand over such blatant inequality?

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