Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on the amendment. It is a fairly reasonable request to ensure the little baby will not suffer any pain and that any avenues open to the medical profession are used to ensure these children will not suffer pain for the last few seconds of their lives in this world. It is a minimal request. We all have or have had people belonging to us who suffered pain. It is terrible to see people suffering. Many people in many families are suffering pain as we speak here.

We are talking about poor defenceless little babies in their last few seconds. It has been proven beyond a shadow of doubt that they have feelings and that pain affects them. Whether it is anaesthetic or some other avenue available to the medical profession, it is not unreasonable to ask that something be used to ensure that they do not suffer.

Being a Member of the Dáil is an honour. However, if we did not do our best to ensure these infants would not suffer pain by asking for this on their behalf, we would not be worth anything and our lives would not mean anything. I support the amendment. It is not too much to ask. The Minister is providing €12 million for the abortion service. Surely he can dedicate some of that money to ensure that the pain of these little babies, whom the medical profession has said can feel pain, be minimised so they are not hurt. It is not much to ask the Minister to use some of the money, wherever he got it, to ensure that these babies would not be allowed to suffer pain.

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