Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I refer to amendments Nos. 32 to 34, inclusive, and the 72-hour provision. On 26 May, the people voted to repeal the eighth amendment and provided the Oireachtas with the opportunity to legislate for the termination of pregnancy. When the people cast their votes, they had the heads of Bill to guide them. They stated clearly that there would be a 72-hour waiting period before an abortion could be carried out. It is irrelevant why that was promised or who promised it. It was in the heads and that is what is relevant. The 72 hours were referred to in some instances as a cooling off period, but this was put forward by the Taoiseach as a safeguard. Its inclusion in the heads of the Bill was the important point because when the people voted on 26 May, they were guided by what they saw in those heads. The removal of the waiting period would mean the Government misled the Irish people deliberately on the safeguards during the referendum campaign. Many people could be described as having voted by way of a soft "Yes". They passed the vote on the basis of the guarantees provided by the Government. The Government has to be held to its word. There is a great deal in the Bill with which I do not personally agree but I am a realist and I realise that when the people voted, they did so according to their conscience based on what was contained in the heads of the Bill. Those heads included a 72-hour waiting period. No removal of the waiting period should be permitted.

See this speech in context