Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This issue has been discussed in great detail. Many people would have considered its discussion in advance of the referendum disingenuous. Until the Irish people adjudicated on the eighth amendment it would have been very difficult for and presumptuous of this House to discuss it. Of course, the decision having been made, it is now up to Members to put forward their views on the interpretation of that decision. In my view, the interpretation is very clear. The proposed detail in heads of the Bill was available to the people and they voted emphatically to support the proposals and the promised services. Those services must now be made available to the people.

Reference has been made to doctors not having been consulted on conscientious objection. The majority of those who gave evidence before the committee on the eighth amendment were doctors or experts in women's healthcare. Similarly, the majority of those who advocated for change to the eighth amendment and to make abortion services available in this country were doctors and representatives of the governing bodies of the various medical disciplines such as the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Irish College of General Practitioners and many others. I accept that within those bodies there are people with differing views.

Conscientious objection is enshrined in the legislation as proposed. However, its interpretation in Medical Council guidelines is critically important. For us to legislate beyond that would be very dangerous. We would run the risk of being too prescriptive in healthcare. Parliament passes laws and the Medical Council interprets them and puts guidelines in place for its members.

In much of this debate, we seem to have forgotten the patient, the woman.

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