Dáil debates

Wednesday, 28 November 2018

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed)

 

8:20 pm

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Byrne and others are right that we have to be careful that none of us second-guesses the Irish people. One of the reasons we published a general scheme, and one of the reasons many Deputies in the House called on me to do so, was so we would not be in this position after the referendum, whereby we would all look into our hearts and decide what the Irish people thought. We published it. Many people who campaigned for a "Yes" vote campaigned in the knowledge this would be the general scheme.

To respond to Deputy Daly, 12 weeks is the outer limit in the legislation and I accept this. I also accept the overwhelming majority of women will access termination much earlier than this. We have already seen this with women having to travel to other jurisdictions. Outside of that, the scenarios outlined by the Deputy would fall under the emergency provisions and it would not be appropriate for me to deviate further from that.

I want to put on record some of the Dutch law because it has been referenced so many times. The law in the Netherlands on the termination of pregnancy states a pregnancy shall be terminated not earlier than six days after the woman has consulted a physician and on that occasion discussed her intention with him or her. On its website, the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport states the law imposes a mandatory five-day wait time so the woman can think carefully about her decision.

That is language we are not using in Ireland. These matters can be kept under review. I hope that as the technology develops, as Deputy Harty said where there is electronic booking and the like, the issue of when the three days start could be considered. However, that is not how our health service works at present in terms of making appointments with a general practitioner and so forth. Obviously I support my amendments in terms of providing clarity about the two doctors and I cannot accept the other amendments.

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