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

I did not interrupt anyone. She told us clearly that her mother was forced into having an abortion. That is what happened. She ended up alive because some good nurse came back, took her out, saw to her and she survived. She came to Buswells to tell us her story. It frightened me to think that actually happened. We have figures on this but they are not as real to me as that person telling me her story. The figures indicate that, in 2005, 66 babies in England and Wales were born alive after failed abortions and then, breathing unaided, were left to die. This amendment makes sure that such a scandal will not happen here. Of course, the amendment will do nothing to prevent access to abortion but it will avoid the gross human rights abuse that happens when the law does not clearly protect babies who survive abortion.

The breadth of the top of my nail is the difference between being dead and being alive. A small bit of extra attention can ensure that the person is alive rather than dead, and it is likewise with a baby. This amendment provides clarity and guidance for doctors by creating a duty to save the life of a child who is born alive after an attempted abortion. The Minister said to us at the committee that this is what doctors would do in any event. All we are asking for is to be sure about that.

Heretofore, we did not have abortion in this country.

7 o’clock

The doctors that we know were dedicated and trained, and the midwives, to ensure in the maternity ward that everything was done to ensure that they would live. We know that is what they are doing and have been doing. This is different. This is an abortion clinic and all we are asking is that the same effort is put into ensuring that if the baby arrives out alive he or she gets every chance at life the same as the baby that was born in the maternity ward. That is all we are asking. It is not unreasonable. The Minister should not criticise us or say that it is unfair of us to ask for this. It is only a small thing in all of this Bill but to us it is a very big thing, to the little baby that might come out alive it would be a chance at life and that is all we all want, a chance to live as long as we can. That is all we are asking. Until the day I die, whether I win or lose the next election or the one after that, I will never be sorry for asking for this here in this Chamber because I may never again get the chance to do that.

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