Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleagues for their contributions to the statements this evening and over the course of what has been quite a lengthy and extensive debate over a number of sessions in Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann on the findings and the report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. I said here when I opened this debate that I hoped we could show in these Houses that the debate can take place in an atmosphere of respect for one another's views in order that the same is possible in the context of a referendum campaign. I think it is fair to say that has happened and people have come here and spoken freely and with conviction from their different points of view and with respect for those who are listening both inside and outside this Chamber. I very much respect that. It has served the issue and the debate well, regardless of people's perspectives. It is such a sensitive subject for so many people, and we must all work to avoid language that can be deeply hurtful to others. From my point of view, as Minister for Health, I am trying to deal with the facts and the realities which face us as a country as we move forward to try to address them, in particular the legacy of the eighth amendment. I remain concerned by the reality which faced the 3,265 women who travelled to the UK in 2016. These are real Irish women, not numbers or statistics: our sisters, friends, neighbours and wives, with real, personal reasons for the difficult decisions they made that led them on that often very lonely and distressing journey to a different country for care.

As I said then, a number of women from every single county in Ireland travelled in 2016. There is not one constituency this did not impact on women. Members' constituents have been impacted by this. Their constituents have had to leave Ireland to go abroad to access terminations. It has been bothering me since I put those county statistics on the record of the House that I neglected to acknowledge another 520 Irish women who were among that number but chose not to state what county they were from.

I spoke also at the opening of the debate of the new reality facing us of abortion pills now being bought on the Internet and used by women in this country without medical supervision. No longer does an Irish woman need to go abroad for an abortion. It is now happening here in this country with the illegal use of an abortion pill without any medical supervision. These are facts we must face. These are facts we can no longer avoid. Abortion is a reality in Ireland today. Unregulated abortion is a reality in Ireland today. Unrestricted abortion is a reality in Ireland today. The eighth amendment has not changed this fact and, far from providing certainty, it has left women and doctors in impossible situations, alone in the care of other countries and often finding their personal health situations before the courts. It does not allow any room for us to care properly for women and children who are pregnant as a result of rape or for those families who receive the devastating diagnosis that their baby will not survive outside of the womb.

For the first time since 1983 the Irish people are to have their say on the substantive issue of the eighth amendment and whether it should be removed from our Constitution. This follows recommendations from the Citizens' Assembly and the cross-party Oireachtas committee, as well as a Government decision last month that a referendum be held. That referendum will propose that Article 40.3.3° is deleted in its entirety and a clause inserted that makes it clear that the Oireachtas may legislate to regulate termination of pregnancy. Last month, I was given Government approval to draft the Bill which would allow for the referendum to take place, and yesterday I brought the heads of the Bill to Cabinet for approval. The Bill will now be fully drafted and brought to Cabinet for approval, before being published at the beginning of March. This will allow a referendum to take place by the end of May.

If I could send just one message this evening, it would be to remember that the referendum must be passed and the eighth amendment repealed if anything is to change for Irish women. We have heard many politicians from all parties say that we need to change the status quo. There have been differences and a debate about what should come after it, but many people have said we need to change the status quo. Let us be clear, if we want to change the status quowe must repeal the eighth amendment. This is an important reality. This is a statement of fact. If we do not repeal the eighth amendment, Irish women in crisis situations, such as fatal foetal abnormalities or women who have been raped and abused, will continue to be forced to travel abroad to have a termination, or purchase abortion pills illegally online and use them without any medical supervision or support. These situations cannot change unless and until we repeal the eighth amendment.

I am working on drafting legislation which would follow a repeal of the eighth amendment if the people choose to vote for that in the referendum. We set up a process as a Government where we asked the Citizens' Assembly, a gathering of civic-minded citizens, to come together and consider issues, and we asked that their report be considered by an Oireachtas committee.

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