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

I support the amendment, to which I signed my name. This is about dignity in death and the protection of infants born alive. It is reasonable to save a child who defies the object of what is trying to be achieved, namely his or her death. If an infant is born alive, what we are seeking here is just basic humanity. It is basic dignity for a person to have a fighting chance at life if he or she is born alive after what we term a "failed abortion." I will not repeat the horror stories such as those Deputy Mattie McGrath highlighted whereby people survived abortion, but we have to cater for such cases. The Minister would be the first to say that one has to allow for every eventuality. This is an eventuality which could happen and we should legislate for it. We should legislate for the protection of the baby who survives an abortion. I support the amendment.

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