Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

This is probably the final comment I will get to make on this. This provision will come home to roost in the most dangerous situations for women. I do not believe that it is envisaging somebody forcing a woman to take the pill or forcing her to have an abortion under the ten or 12-week limit, when 95% or 96% of women generally seek terminations. The number of women who seek terminations in the early term is very high. This will come into its own as both a chill factor and a dangerous legal implement when women are at their most vulnerable and endangered. When their lives or health are at risk, when they are undergoing abortions for fatal foetal abnormality or when there are questions about viability is when this will have the most impact. This section is putting the most risk on the most vulnerable women at the most vulnerable time of their lives. Applying the logic of shoving pills down one's throat and so forth is not what this is about. As I said earlier, the Minister has been asked by Lawyers for Choice and others to consider using other existing legislative measures in terms of offences against the person rather than inserting this provision. It must be considered very gravely indeed. We run the risk of not having the obstetricians, doctors and midwives step up to the plate if they think they might become criminals with potential 14-year sentences hanging over them at the most urgent time of the most vulnerable woman's life.

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