Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----and the many thousands who have stated in polls since that they have concerns. We moved to repeal the eighth amendment but not for this draconian, drastic and savage legislation. It is ironic. I did not attend the lighting of the Christmas tree this year for the first year ever. In three weeks' time we will celebrate the birth of our Lord and here we are tonight passing this Bill. It is ironic. I am sure the irony is not lost on many people. We will not be accused of that.

There are 21 countries in Europe and up to 40 states in the US that have age limits on parental notification. It is quoted as best international practice but when it suits some people we cannot even mention it but we will mention it. As has also been pointed out, provision is made for the High Court to dispense with the parental notification requirement if it is satisfied it is in the minor's best interest to do so. Deputy Healy-Rae mentioned Cavan and Longford and the awful cases we had. There have been horrific cases. We have all been horrified by them. We want to support young girls and teenagers. We are all for proper sex education and proper education across the board. It is not to go off on a tangent. I am a parent and so are many of my colleagues. We like to have our young girls and daughters educated properly and educated to protect themselves and for the people around them to be respectful.

We have to be respectful ourselves. This amendment does not make any change to existing laws governing the giving of consent on or on behalf of minors for surgical or medical treatment. Even those receiving vaccines in schools were asked to sign consent. It is not something new or draconian that we have drawn up.

We are responsible and we have been responsible. We are not anti-choice or anti-care. The word "allegedly" was put on the record of the House when someone said we allegedly care. That is a total misuse. It is misconstruing the amendment. It represents misuse of language and it is objectionable language. It is an effort to silence us but we will not be silenced. We have a democratic right for the time being and we are mandated to represent people here in Dáil Éireann. It is a great privilege – is mór an pribhléid í. We are proud of it and we will do our humble best and get advice where we do not have the experience or the full knowledge – we are not prophets. We will get the help. Of course we get help with amendments. No one here has a monopoly on compassion.

It ill-behoves the Taoiseach, as Deputy Healy-Rae said, to have said today in the House that we are filibustering. I hope he withdraws it when he looks at the record. When history recalls the record of who spoke, for how long and who spoke in a respectful manner during the debate, it will show something different. All we ask for is respect and to be respectably allowed to put our amendments, speak to them and have votes on them.

See this speech in context