Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

GPs, pharmacists, midwives and nurses, all medical professionals, are conscientiously committed to both patients and will remain so regardless of sanctions. Nobody should be forced to end life. I do not think the Minister will do that. He should be fair and look at the situation a woman is in. These people are not looking for headlines. They have a conscience. Doctors and nursing staff have paid for their education, trained and put in big efforts. They were trained to save lives, not to end them. Nobody should be forced to end life.

I am a very lucky individual. I have a family that is pretty healthy. People are going away and professionally training to be doctors, nurses or midwives. Sorry, is there a problem here? I am trying to make a speech here and it is not nice when someone on my right-hand side, especially as it is the Minister, is not showing respect. I am not trying to be smart.

See this speech in context