Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is hard to know what to say in a minute on such a complex issue. Luckily, the confirmation of a pregnancy is normally a very happy event filled with expectation, joy and excitement over the prospect of a healthy child. The diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality must be one of the most tragic of circumstances that any woman and her partner may experience. One must walk in the shoes of such a woman or a doctor, who must work under conditions that do not always seem to be clear-cut, to have a real understanding of the complex issues at play and the agony of having to make a very difficult decision, possibly the most difficult decision of one's life. All we are looking for here is respect for that choice and to facilitate it in a humane way. I commend the women who have come forward to tell their very difficult stories. I also commend the bravery of the women who have gone through with births in difficult, tragic circumstances. I respect their choice also. Free will and choice are powerful gifts. One person’s wish may be another's tragedy. What is right for me may not be right for another woman. I have no right to dictate her best option regarding a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality. Our approach should not be divisive and should encourage an open debate.

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