Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am a little disconcerted by some of the points made about this group of amendments. It appears that in recognising the right of a conscientious objector at all levels, a point with which I agree, it is seen by some as a means of frustrating the purpose of this exercise, namely, compliance with the decision of the people in the referendum. That is a serious matter.

Deputy Ó Cuív made a remark which concerned me a little on the question of two lives being involved. There are, but it should not be forgotten that this is what the eighth amendment was about - equality. History showed that equality when it came to the right to life did not work. Instead, it ended tragically and it has to end tragically for one or other patient. In order to ensure the concept of equality was carried through, practitioners had to wait until such time it was too late and two lives were lost. That did not happen on just one but on several occasions.

I do not have a daughter, but if I did, I would be concerned if I were to come to a conclusion that there would be a debate on the eighth amendment again before action might be taken to intervene in the case of a woman who had presented with a crisis pregnancy. I thought we had had that conversation. I thought our obligation was to comply with the decision of the people. They decided with no force put on them. They made up their own minds clearly.

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