Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----will support the introduction of free contraception, when we bring it before the House, with the same gusto with which they have tonight highlighted the issue and challenge of crisis pregnancy. Here is the way I have approached this Bill. I approached it by doing exactly what I told the people I was going to do. The draft legislation published in March outlined the information we would require to be collected if the people voted "Yes". Deputy Bríd Smith is right. We would get the impression from some people tonight that this Bill does not endeavour to collect any information. Of course it does.

Some people believe it is too much information. Deputy Clare Daly has made that point. She would like to do it in a different way. I respect that view. Other people would like much more information to be collected. I believe that this Bill endeavours to collect the minimal amount of information required to make sure we can properly monitor the rolling out of these new services in our health service and make informed decisions as policymakers. If we removed the requirement on me to have that information, we would also be removing the requirement on me to make a presentation to the Dáil by way of report each and every year.

It is important to point out that amendment No. 43b would place a criminal sanction on a doctor for not complying with this information. Some Deputies will be very concerned later about the issue of conscientious objection-----

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