Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his views on Roe v. Wade and jurisprudence but I am more interested in what this Government is going to do to push back against any attempt to roll back abortion. I have no doubt this will embolden anti-abortionists everywhere. Aside from them, we need to know women's rights will be strengthened and not weakened by this Government. That review is hugely important, not least because the figures I gave are quite shocking. There were 770 women who had to travel when one of the reasons for introducing the legislation was to allow a health service that took care of women's reproductive rights in this country and not abroad.

We have a shocking situation, and many women come to us about it, where fatal foetal abnormality is not being properly dealt with under our laws. That also needs to be reviewed. I am more interested in that review, when it will take place and what commitment the Government will give to follow up the comments of the Minister for Justice this morning. She said we have to push back against any attempt to undermine abortion legislation in this country. I have no doubt that will come and we have already seen evidence of it from various quarters in this Oireachtas. It will come from other forces as well.

I really want a commitment from the Taoiseach today that the abortion review will be held as soon as possible and he will commit to reviewing all the features of it, including fatal foetal abnormalities, the three-day wait, the 12-week limit and the full decriminalisation of abortion.

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