Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will speak in favour of the motion. The Rural Independent Group is also fully in favour of the motion. I thank Deputy Catherine Martin for tabling it.

Care of family and children is enshrined in our Constitution and the birth of a baby is the most significant event in a family's life journey. The proper care and nurturing of a baby by bonding between mother and baby is critical to the development of the emotional and caring relationship between them for life. Premature babies may have physical life-threatening problems, as outlined in the motion, which require intensive care both in hospital and at home. It is important that mothers are as closely involved as possible in the care of their children and are given the time to do so. As part of our society's values, which include compassion and understanding, we must create the time and space for mothers of premature babies to recover physically and emotionally while being given the time to care for their babies or baby.

I wish to make a point on substantial prematurity. Some babies are now surviving although they were born as early as at 23 weeks gestation. At the moment, babies who are in utero at 23 weeks have protection under the Constitution but they may lose that protection should the eighth amendment be repealed. In England, a 23 week old foetus has no rights as a person. It acquires full legal status and protection only if born alive. The motion concerns all the supports that the State can provide to look after a baby born at 23 weeks. Should the 23 week old unborn foetus not have the same human rights and be protected from termination of pregnancy when that baby has the potential for a full and healthy life? Should we not pull out all the stops to protect a 23 week old unborn foetus just as we now propose to do to protect the life of a baby born at 23 weeks? We have to protect our babies, whether they are born or unborn, at 23 weeks. We must also protect their mothers and give them time to look after them when they are born.

See this speech in context