Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this debate. Across the House, regardless of people's views on this, we need a reasoned debate and respect, as Members of all sides have pointed out. As many Deputies, Senators and other people in public life know from some of the emails and other material we receive, there are people on both sides of the debate whose correspondence is not helpful or in the spirit of reasoned and respectful debate. However, every Deputy, regardless of which side of this debate he or she is on, must contend with this. I fear that over the coming months, as different sides get entrenched in the debate, it will cause a fierce split. We as politicians need to ensure we show leadership, regardless of which side we are on, and that we have this debate in a reasoned and fair manner in which both sides of this argument - this is very important - get fair hearings and that it is not lopsided in any way.

From listening to people in recent weeks, if one does the tallying, it looks like this will go to a referendum. While people might not agree with this, the Irish people will probably go to the polls to decide the matter in May or June, whenever the Minister has the legislative process in place. From talking to people, I understand there are grave concerns out there. I have made my position very clear: I am opposed to this. I worry about the way we are going with the Attorney General's advice - I know it is not the Minister's. From listening to what the Minister has said - and I was on a programme with him - I understand it will now basically be removed, that the Irish people will not have a vote on the matter again and that it will be put into the hands of the political class now and into the future to deal with whatever legislative process or times or limits are put on it. There is a genuine worry about this. It is not that people will brand the present Government or future Governments, but down the road we do not know how far this will go. There is concern among many people about the proposals. I know there is nothing definite yet as to what the legislation will look like, but I think the 12-weeks issue is a big worry for many people, to put it very bluntly.

We want to ensure our debate is reasoned. I have heard about people who have disabilities and so on. It is important that wild statements are not made but also that people do not deny accuracies in statements that are made. I worry about Denmark. I think it is Denmark that has basically stated how it sees its people with disabilities into the future, and that is a worry for everyone. The people of Ireland need to be told very clearly that when they go to the polls for the referendum this time, they will decide once and for all whether to give power to Members of the Dáil to legislate in this area. It is important, as with most other decisions that are of importance to the country, that people get the opportunity of a referendum. I know it has been 35 years since the 1983 referendum and that some people never got the chance to vote on this. However, we are going in a worrying direction in that the ability of the Irish people, and not their elected representatives, to decide will be over once and for all. There is a concern that the law may become more and more liberal, according to people to whom I have been talking. We must also be mindful of the women of Ireland and of the unborn and we must ensure we understand and show respect. I have visited houses in which there have been perhaps four different opinions on this issue. If the Government is to send the issue for a referendum, all the facts need to be out there. I have made my position very clear: I am opposed to this. I have said as much from day one and I will stay with my position.

See this speech in context