Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

7 o’clock

I have no intention of using seven minutes. This has been a long time coming and I do not want to intentionally make it any longer.` The vote in May was a vote to end the stigmatisation around access to abortion and, therefore, we should not be afraid to use words such as "abortion" or "access" - that is exactly what this is about. People did not vote for the continuation of stigmatisation or for the continuation of the use of language that is in any way vague. I had hundreds, if not thousands, of conversations with people on doorsteps, as did many of my colleagues. People were very clear what they were voting for.

I am of the view that what is proposed would make for a more appropriate Title. It endeavours to ensure women will have access to abortion services. We should start as we mean to go on with this legislation. We should do the vote justice. As has been pointed out, there are plenty of things in legislation that do not appear in the Constitution and they do not contradict each other; in fact, they coalesce quite nicely. I ask the Minister and all present to give consideration to supporting amendments Nos. 1 and 2.

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