Dáil debates

Tuesday, 4 December 2018

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

 

10:10 pm

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The referendum is over. We are going to have widespread abortion provision in this State from next year. To be honest, I am not interested in the sideshow arguments that have been taking place here over amendments that are not going to pass and rows that have long been settled. What I am interested in is considering the Bill before us. The collection of information is critical in developing health policy, for sure. It is absolutely the case that data such as those on county of origin can be useful but they do not have to be provided for in primary legislation. They can be dealt with in guidelines. What is problematic is requiring the collection of information about doctors, their Medical Council number and so on. It is precisely problematic in the context of where we have come from in this State and some of the difficulties that exist.

I agree with the Minister that in three years or so we probably will not need these provisions. If one follows that logic, however, the problem is that by putting in these provisions now, one is actually tying the hands of doctors, creating a climate of fear, perpetuating abortion stigma and making it more difficult to provide health care. Rather than helping to gather information to determine whether our health policies are working and whether we are ensuring reproductive help has improved and fewer people need to travel, it is making the situation more precarious and forcing more women to continue to travel. It is regrettable that the Minister is saying we need to wait three years to get what may be a better Bill. We can provide for the collection of information by means of guidelines; we do not need restrictive conditions. The Minister should seriously examine the amendment we have put forward because it genuinely improves the Bill.

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