Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The first political campaign I was involved in was the referenda in 1992. I was the chair of the Irish Society in the University of East London and ourselves and the Women's Society decided that we would come over and play an active role in that campaign. We did so, obviously, because we had strong views that there should not be restrictions on the right to travel or the right to information and because we did not want to see further restrictions to the already very limited access to terminations.

The group was diverse. We were not just young university students. It was a university that had great diversity in terms of age and of region of Ireland that students came from, both first and second generation, and all sorts of opinions. However, something that informed all of us was, as Irish people living in Britain, we had direct experience of the huge impact that being forced to travel to Britain for terminations was having on our friends, on our mothers or sisters, and our neighbours. We saw at first hand the trauma, the stigma and the shame that women dealing with these crisis pregnancies were forced to endure because of the regime that was in place here. Many of us, because we approached this in a human way, came to understand the great complexity of crisis pregnancies, the need for greater compassion, and, crucially, the need to look at all of this from the point of view of the woman.

Unfortunately, in the intervening years much of the debate became polarised and that human aspect seemed to get lost in much of the commentary. On the positive side, there has been very significant change not only in the opinions, but also the mood and the tone of the conversation that we are having. My colleague, Deputy Ó Laoghaire, is absolutely right that the tragic and unnecessary death of Ms Savita Halappanavar was a catalytic moment in changing that. It was not only the events themselves, but the very courageous journalism of people, such as Ms Kitty Holland, who went to great efforts so that we would understand the human cost of the eighth amendment in that particular case.

During the debate around the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013, there was a genuine change of tone here in this Chamber, irrespective of the positions that Members took in that debate. My sense of it was that we were having a more considered, more thoughtful and, in broad terms, less judgmental debate which could only be good.

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This has continued in the work of both the Citizens' Assembly and the special Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, and I genuinely commend all those who participated in the assembly and the Oireachtas committee. I commend in particular the Chairman of the committee, Senator Catherine Noone, who did an exceptionally good job in very difficult circumstances to produce the report we are discussing. At earlier stages of this debate I listened very carefully to members of the committee, particularly those who came out of that process with views different from those they had going into it. I think this was a result of very careful, very thoughtful deliberation on the information and on the expert opinion that was presented to them.

Sinn Féin, as is known, strongly welcomes the option of straight repeal that the committee report recommends. We are also very supportive of the recommendations on the very sensitive issue of terminations in cases of rape and fatal foetal abnormality. Those parties that do not currently support unrestricted access to abortion up to 12 weeks' gestation, and our party is one, need to carefully consider the evidence and the recommendations of the two reports. Sinn Féin will review our policy on these issues in advance of any referendum. Like many of my colleagues, I will strongly argue internally in the party for it to move on to support unrestricted access to abortion up to 12 weeks' gestation if for no other reason than the fact that, for example, if one believes that a survivor of rape should not be forced to carry to full term, the only way that person can access a termination is by way of an unrestricted period, in this instance up to 12 weeks. The committee's recommendation in this regard is both correct and compassionate.

I also welcome other aspects of the report - for example, the strong recommendation to end the criminalisation of women who access terminations and to repeal section 22 of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act. While we talk about the substantive issues in the report, we should not lose sight of those other important recommendations. This is also the case with regard to recommendations on contraception, sex education, obstetric care and counselling, which are really important parts of the work of the committee and of which we should be mindful.

I appeal to all of us - Members of this Chamber and members of the public - irrespective of our views during and after the referendum, which I hope will take place soon, to have a calm and respectful debate. I absolutely respect the right of other Members of this House to hold differing and contrary opinions, but this is such an important and sensitive issue that we must be able to have this conversation in an honest, open, thoughtful and calm way. Furthermore, those of us who want to see repeal of the eighth amendment, irrespective of other differences we may have as to the kind of legislation we will support afterwards, need to unite around that campaign and ensure that the maximum level of unity of the pro-repeal sections of our society is achieved to secure that outcome. I also make an appeal for us to be mindful of the fact that many people are still grappling with these issues and struggling to reconcile their desire for compassion and understanding with strongly held views on the issue of abortion. Those of us who have a settled view and want to see the eighth repealed and a more woman-centred legislative regime put in place afterwards have a job to convince people that is the right course of action. Then, when we repeal the eighth, as I hope the citizens of this State will do, let us ensure we draft and pass the best possible legislation that trusts women and guarantees their right to the health care that they so rightly deserve.

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