Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Other parties have begun by referring to Joanne Hayes. I hope the political parties that contributed to the atmosphere of that time and to the witch-hunt of that woman will draw the necessary lesson, that is to say, women should have privacy and autonomy over their own lives.

Five weeks ago, an all-party Oireachtas committee voted in favour of having a referendum on a simple repeal of the eighth amendment and of providing for abortion to be legal up to 12 weeks without restriction. This was the culmination of a process that was set up by the Government. Yet, people are none the wiser on the simple question of whether the Government is now going to accept or set aside the recommendations of the committee.

Later today, many young people are expected to assemble at the Dáil as part of the Strike 4 Repeal movement. They want to listen to the debate. The questions they want answered are simple. These young people know nothing of the Ireland that we got a glimpse of yesterday, that is, of dead babies on beaches or Salem trials of a woman. They believe in bodily autonomy. They will not accept politicians procrastinating. They are the people who will actually face crisis pregnancies in future. We need certain questions answered. Is it the Government's intention to honour the Taoiseach's commitment for a referendum in late May? In order to meet that timeframe, will the Government do three necessary things? First, will the Government move the First Stage of a repeal referendum Bill late next week? Second, will the Government set up the referendum commission, which has asked for 16 weeks in which to operate? Third, will the Government publish legislation that contains abortion up to 12 weeks on request?

Four weeks ago, the committee report was published. Given the number of Deputies who have not had time to read it, one would think they were asked to read War and Peacerather than a short report. As usual, when it comes to the rights and decisions of women, Deputies are wrestling with their consciences in a way they never do when it comes to cutting hospital beds or bailing out banks. Anyway, women should be allowed to examine their consciences about this decision rather than politicians - that is the reality. Let us worry about whether people with crisis pregnancies can sleep at night rather than the Tánaiste or Deputies.

This really should be simple for politicians. As Professor Aralkumaran put it at the committee, do we support legal or illegal abortion? That is the simple question. Do we want to force people to remain pregnant? That is all anyone need ask themselves. Societal attitudes have moved on considerably. There is now a new middle ground. Even if there was not a majority now for abortion rights – the figure was 60% in the last RED C poll – parliaments have to legislate for societal need and reality.

My question is for the young people who will gather at 5 p.m. Will the Government respect the recommendations of the Oireachtas committee? Will the Tánaiste give a date for when the repeal Bill will be first moved through the House to allow the referendum commission to be established? Will the Government ensure that legislation gives real abortion rights, regardless of the Tánaiste's personal opinions?

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