Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not agree with the Deputy's comments on the Government’s approach to this issue. I was proud to be a member of the Government which dealt with the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act. The issues addressed in that Act had not been on the floor of this House, or had not been dealt with, until the previous Government decided to deal with them, as had been recommended by the Supreme Court many years previously.

This is a delicate and difficult issue for every individual and society as to what exactly the legislative framework ought to be. What we have had is a helpful and an important Citizens’ Assembly which addressed this issue and arrived at certain conclusions. That is the opinion of the Citizens’ Assembly. It is important we listen and examine carefully and await the final report in June on its deliberations. We will all learn quite a lot from reading the detail of its deliberations, once we receive the report. That was an important procedure with which Deputy will agree.

Where to from there? The Government has been clear that a committee will be established with all parties and Independents represented on it. That will take place over the next several months. Then the Dáil has to take decisions. I expect there will be a referendum after that. A clear process has been laid out in terms of the deliberations of this House. It is a different procedure to decide on legislation as opposed to have hearing of the opinions of the Citizens’ Assembly. No doubt, we will all take that into account.

Framing legislation in this area and what might replace a referendum is a complex issue. It demands the kind of approach the Government has laid out which involves the Dáil committee specifically examining it, and then the Dáil deciding where to after that. There are timeframes laid out for that.

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