Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank everyone for their contributions. I know people on both sides of the debate have strong feelings on this issue. I feel that we have to stick to what is in the general scheme of the Bill. I remember one of the big reasons and main arguments leading "No" advocates had for campaigning was that one could not trust politicians. They said this was the draft law but that if given a mandate, politicians would do something completely different. They said politicians would provide reasonable discussion and a deliberative process but would change their minds as soon as people voted "Yes". I have no intention of being one of those politicians. The Bill that I proposed in March, which was approved by the Government and published in advance, is the legislation that I told the people I would endeavour to enact if they voted "Yes". People in this House are within their rights to try to amend that legislation. I fully respect that but I feel a responsibility to enact legislation that is not substantively different from the draft general scheme.

We made some changes to try to improve the operation of this. As Deputy Healy referred to, it was 72 hours in the original scheme. That does not work for many reasons, so we changed that to three days. I also clarified on Committee Stage how the three days would start, so the issues Deputy Coppinger mentioned are not as stark with regard to it not being three full days. I do not believe it runs over the number of days but Deputy Coppinger believes it does. Deputy Daly raised the issue of what happens if a woman turns up in a particularly difficult situation. The Deputy specifically raised domestic violence. We discussed this at the committee. We also discussed it in a meeting with the Chief Medical Officer. He was clear and I am clear that there are emergency provisions in the Bill which will be used by doctors in accordance with their own clinical discretion. This legislation will be kept under review. I will run out of time to talk about the Dutch model but the way in which people describe it is not my full understanding. If I get back in, I might outline it. They have a five-day waiting period as a minimum. We are proposing three days.

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