Dáil debates
Wednesday, 5 December 2018
Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Report Stage (Resumed)
5:55 pm
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
I have met representatives of the training college that trains our GPs. I think that is what my responsibility as a Minister is.
I want to make it clear that conscientious objection is a long-established and important principle in this country. I will defend the right of a healthcare professional to object conscientiously and I would expect an overwhelming majority of Members of this House to do likewise. I will also defend to the death the right of a woman to access healthcare in our country. We need to make sure those two rights do not trump each other. Under the system of conscientious objection we are providing for, those who opt out will need to provide information. We are setting up a 24-7 helpline to help them to do that. This is reasonable. There are some people who want to stymie and delay it and prevent it from coming in. They are going to throw the kitchen sink at their efforts to prevent this from happening. Conscientious objection is fully respected. Conscientious obstruction of the democratic will of the people and of healthcare for women will never be tolerated.
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