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

I do not know what Deputies are hoping to hide or what they fear from the gathering of the data. There are important data asked for in the amendment, including the address at which the termination took place, the age and marital status of the pregnant woman and the country she is from. Also sought is the length of the pregnancy at the date on which the termination of pregnancy took place. That is important. The amendment would require data on whether the pregnancy was singleton or multiple, the date and the method of foeticide, if used, and where the termination of pregnancy was a selective termination, the original number of foetuses and the number to which they were reduced. Where a termination of pregnancy is carried out under section 12, the amendment would seek data on the condition affecting the foetus and the method of and grounds for the diagnosis of that condition. Data would be compiled on whether a live birth followed the termination of pregnancy, and, if so, the care given to the baby and its outcome. This reference in paragraph (m) is vital. I appeal to every Member to examine it because there is nothing wrong with it.

There is everything right about demanding that the baby is properly looked after. We have asked for this before, it is part of this amendment and I am asking for it again because every baby who is alive deserves every medical intervention to ensure they stay alive after birth. The wording of the amendment is "if the death of the woman occurred as a result of the termination of pregnancy, the date and cause of death". These are all very important and laudable things to ask for. I will take no rubbish from anyone directing it at us because those Deputies are wrong, and when people are wrong, they are never right.

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