Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not like the three-day waiting period. It is not something I would have included in the Bill. As other Deputies have said, however, it is part of what was put before the people and voted on. There are many aspects of the legislation of which other Members do not approve, but that is what was voted on. We have to be consistent as we move through this process. The three-day waiting period does not serve the interests of women. It serves to placate some of those who are more concerned about having services at all. As has been said, however, it was part of what was put before the people in May. No woman comes to a decision to request a termination lightly. It is not a decision that is taken at the last minute or without have considered the situation. However, the provision suggests that one needs three days to cool off because one does not really know what one is doing, does not know one's own mind or has not really thought about it properly. It suggests that if one has three days to think about it further, one will change one's mind. In my view, when one has come to the stage of asking for the service and for help, one has thought about it and knows what one is doing. One knows one's own body and mind and has one's own reasons for wanting the service. As such, the review will be important. We must consider sections like this in particular in that context as they may have a very negative impact on women.

I refer in particular to the amendment to which Deputy O'Reilly spoke and the potential for the three-day waiting period to be overly burdensome on some women. There will not be many cases of it, but it is possible that there will be women who, for whatever reason, find out and make that decision very late and close to the 12-week mark. It is possible in those circumstances that the three-day requirement will put them over the 12 weeks, thereby precluding them from accessing services in the jurisdiction. It is one of the potential consequences for women. This provision suggests somehow that women do not know what they are doing when they request the service and that if a woman has a bit more time to think about it, she might change her mind. It undermines the validity of her decision in the first place. It is insulting to suggest that a woman has not thought about it properly before she makes that call or sees her GP.

However, I understand the concerns on the other side of the debate and I understand that some people genuinely believe that with more time to think, one might change one's mind. I understand why the three-day waiting period was requested. I appreciate fully and acknowledge that it was voted on and formed part of the heads of the Bill. For that reason, I support the position of Deputies Donnelly and Kelleher that we have to pass legislation that is very much in line with what was before the people in the referendum.

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