Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Since this is my final contribution on Leaders Questions in 2023, I extend a huge thank you to the staff in Leinster House and wish them all a happy Christmas.

Much has been made of the date for the upcoming referendums on care and the family. For some reason, the Government has decided to have them on International Women's Day. Is that because it thinks women are excited about the prospect of a referendum on care and that they will be celebrating if a sexist and legally powerless constitutional provision is replaced with a more progressive-sounding but equally powerless amendment? Should that not be the bare minimum? Perhaps it makes sense in one way that these referendums will take place on International Women's Day in that it will continue a long-standing tradition of the Government patronising women rather than listening to them.

It is seven months since Ms Marie O'Shea published a review on abortion services. The Government reacted with barely disguised horror to that report because it was so clear and straightforward in its findings. The current legislation is failing women in numerous ways. Among the recommendations of Ms O'Shea are that the mandatory three-day waiting period be removed, that the threatened criminalisation of doctors be ended, that there be more clarity when it comes to providing abortion in cases of fatal free foetal abnormality and that there be more balance between an individual's right to conscientious objection and a woman's right to healthcare. These barriers to care are not just an inconvenience for women; they are a danger. Yet, the Government failed to act on the report's very clear proposals. Instead, it kicked the report out to the health committee for a review. That review has now been completed. The health committee is about to recommend that all legislative changes proposed in the report be implemented without delay. The question for the Government now is whether it will act on the recommendations. We all know that so many women still face unimaginable pain every year when they receive a diagnosis of foetal abnormality and are forced to travel abroad for care. The most recent tragic case of this nature was raised by Deputy Bríd Smith in this House yesterday. These women are being failed by the State.

The Tánaiste said he is not convinced that the three-day waiting period is a barrier to women receiving abortion care. I wonder whether he read the part of Ms O'Shea's report that details precisely how this completely arbitrary delay can time women out of care. The three-day wait is not just a potential barrier to care; it is also an insult to the intelligence and autonomy of women all over the country. Is the Tánaiste aware of any similar legal impediment or delay to somebody accessing healthcare that they want or are entitled to? Does he believe pregnant people are somehow more mentally frail or indecisive and therefore require a patronising provision? If the Government really wants to do something meaningful that will have an impact on International Women's Day, will it commit to implementing the recommendations of Marie O'Shea's report by then?

See this speech in context