Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

It was reported in The Irish Timesthat last April at a Fine Gael Party conference Susan and Tim Corcoran had spoken about their struggle with an Edwards syndrome diagnosis.

There is no guarantee they will be able to have an abortion in this country, despite the new law. That is my point. The Taoiseach has not bothered to comment on the problems women are encountering in reality in our hospitals and, I am sure, particularly in rural areas. What we need now is a review of the law sooner rather than later, particularly the 28-day rule that was never part of the national conversation. The Taoiseach is right. Politicians chickened out on what the Citizens’ Assembly recommended, which was severe foetal abnormalities to be considered as well. Those women are paying the price now and it is really not helpful of the Taoiseach to conflate this with disability when he knows these conditions are very complex and interact with one another.

Finally, we need separation of church and State. We need fully secular hospitals where there is not such a culture that sends people on their way but where the Catholic Church no longer has a say in these matters and influences medical staff as well. We need that sooner rather than later. Is the Taoiseach willing to at least review the 28-day rule, which many people cite as being problematic?

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