Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

On the abortion legislation, I was about to propose that if the Second Stage debate does not finish by Thursday, we may have to consider a Friday sitting. This adds to the proposal Deputy Curran made. I appreciate some changes were made by removing other legislation, such as the Hallmarking (Amendment) Bill, from the schedule. However, this Bill was obviously delayed for various reasons, including the messing with the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015. We did not reach it in the week of the budget. This is urgent legislation because ten people are travelling abroad daily for abortions. We cannot have a scenario where Second Stage is not concluded this week. I hope we will begin Committee Stage next week. I propose that, in the interests of the women and pregnant people who are still forced to travel despite the country voting en masse for the democratic right to have an abortion here, the Business Committee factor in an extra sitting on Friday, if necessary, to finish Second Stage.

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