Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In Ireland, the following activities are not legal under the age of 18 years: joining the Army or Garda Síochána; entering into a legally binding contract; registering to vote; changing name by deed poll without parental consent; leaving home without parental consent; getting teeth whitened without parental consent; or using a sunbed without parental consent. Despite that, and unless the House supports the amendment, it could be perfectly legal for someone under 18 years of age to consent to an abortion without parental consent. Deputies might imagine how, unless we support the amendment, their children will be able to end the lives of their babies - the Deputies' grandchildren - without their knowledge, consent or support years before they could even register to vote and enter into legally binding contracts. One of our daughters could consent to risky medical treatment that would end the life of another human being and put her physical and mental health at risk without our knowledge, consent or, more importantly, support years before she could legally use a sunbed or get her teeth whitened. If that is not the kind of Ireland we want for our children, we need to support this amendment. I ask each and every Deputy to consider doing so.

A decision to abort a baby is an irreversible one and our children deserve our support before being asked to make that decision. Our group has tabled this amendment with the intent of protecting the mother of the child going forward, an issue that is of major importance to us. Please, support the amendment so that we can provide our children with that support when they are at their most vulnerable.

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