Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Deputy O'Connell asked us to show her the evidence regarding women hurt by abortion. The Fergusson report is a 30-year longitudinal study which shows negative mental health consequences after abortion. The report was done by a well known and respected healthcare professional. Professor Fergusson was actually pro-choice. Those were his words. Deputy O'Connell is not here to hear that, but I hope the Minister will pass on to her that there is ample evidence.

Deputy O'Connell then spoke about Dr. Abigail Aiken, who is also pro-choice and came before the Special Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. The Deputy pronounced Dr. Aiken some kind of independent when she was not. Like all the others who were brought before the committee, she was one-sided. Such a shambles and disrespect I never saw the like of. The committee could not get one pro-life doctor. Dr. Aiken, as well as being pro-choice, wrote a submission for Deputy Coppinger seeking to abolish the three-day waiting period which the Tánaiste dreamt up when he was on his journey across the River Lee and back. There is the independent evidence that Deputy O'Connell is telling us about. Dr. Aiken wrote a policy paper for Deputy Coppinger to remove the three-day waiting period. She was supposed to be independent at the committee. The people watching this are aghast.

This is even stranger still. Dr. Aiken's evidence on the safety of abortion pills was directly contradicted by none other than Dr. Rhona Mahony at the committee. It was all over the place. Deputy O'Connell was talking about making things up and the fictional idea of abortion regret. I ask the Minister why did he not meet those people? Why will he still not meet them? He should meet them. He only meets people who back him and hides and cowers away from people who have real issues and are suffering as a result of abortion. It is a case of speak no evil, hear no evil and see no evil. He will not engage with the pharmacists in any way, shape or form. These are professional people and he is treating them with total disrespect. I suppose the Minister is so used to disrespecting everybody in his health services that it does not matter to him anymore. He has no respect for anyone who is struggling to get any kind of service from the health system. His record is abysmal. He will go down as the worst Minister in the history of the State. That is my considered opinion and that of many thousands of people. He can laugh all he likes, but those are the real facts.

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