Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I have helped a young woman to get an abortion pill and I could face a 14-year sentence. I am past my sell-by date in terms of being able to carry a child but I have helped other women to terminate a pregnancy because they found themselves in a crisis. I could get 14 years and many of us in this country could be subject to it.

Nobody in this House, apart from those who support the Bill, seems to be taking this issue seriously. If a single woman, doctor or anybody else ends up being arrested or in court, shame on those Deputies. They will bear the responsibility for that. They have an opportunity to vote against this amendment of the Government, which basically argues that the status quoshould remain and the 14-year punishment is the best we can do. If it is the best those opposite can do, they should not be in government. They certainly do not represent the interests of women in this country.

It is unhealthy and immoral and must end. That is why I am saying our hands are tied in introducing legislation to decriminalise women and their practitioners absolutely and utterly. This was the advice from the Office of the Parliamentary Legal Adviser which told us it was unconstitutional. It did not state this about the proposed reduction of the sentence from 14 years to €1. It stated the opposite. It told us that we were free to go ahead, given that it was not unconstitutional. The Minister is receiving different advice from the Attorney General. The Office of the Parliamentary Legal Adviser gave us this advice and we should put it to the test. If the Minister and other Deputies think it is a problem, they should amend it and tell us what they think is appropriate. If this is the best the Minister can do, perhaps he might propose giving them six months, three years, five years or €10. If this is the best he can do because it was the best he could do, he is failing women and should not be Minister for Health.

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