Dáil debates

Thursday, 29 November 2018

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

 

3:50 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There were particular circumstances where a young woman found herself in a desperate situation, with nowhere to go, with no help from any quarter. The only place to go was across the water, to leave the country or disappear into what were once the Magdalen laundries or the mother and baby homes. It is time we grew up a little. It is time we learned that women had lives as well, that they are entitled to due and fair consideration and that they do not find themselves, at this time, in the 21st century, isolated, alone and forlorn.

We were there for three months. We listened in great detail. We were there all of the time and we missed none of the debate. We did not read about it afterwards; we got it first-hand. I compliment my colleagues, some of whom I did not always agree with, but we did what we had to do and what we were obliged to do, which was to take our responsibilities seriously and to recognise there was something that needed to be dealt with. The people responded and they made it quite clear.

Last night it was suggested that minorities have rights. Yes, they do, and so do majorities. The one has to be balanced against the other, and that is democracy; that is the way it has always been. However, we should not exclude a group of people representative of 52% of the population, whether we like it or not - that is, women - and say, "In the future, as in the past, you are not really a first class citizen. You are not equal because you do not control your own future."

I will leave Members with this. Let us assume one puts oneself in the shoes of a woman in those circumstances. I am sorry I am hoarse, a Cheann Comhairle.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.