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

To hear that a year after a report was given to the Government it has not been considered is extremely worrying. I heard the Minster for Health say yesterday that we have to be cognisant of what people voted for in the repeal referendum and in any plan to reform the law and the Taoiseach referenced it now too. I do not know if they are suggesting that they think the majority of people who voted to repeal the eighth amendment wanted to continue to force women who need terminations for medical reasons to travel abroad. I have to say that the very brave women who spoke out about needing a termination for medical reasons during the repeal referendum campaign won more hearts, minds and "Yes" votes than the Government's heads of Bill.

However, for arguments sake let us say it is about the heads of the Bill and the Government wants to honour that, the heads of Bill committed to having a review to see whether there were any serious issues with the current legislation. Some very serious issues have arisen. The fact is that people are still being forced to travel abroad and that women are being forced to wait three days to access medical care. The latter is something we do not see in any other kind of provision for care. It has no place in our law or in modern medicine and it needs to go.

On those three issues, does the Taoiseach think they need to be changed? Will he outline to the House, when considering them, what position he is coming from? Does he understand why these things need to be changed and why considering it now, a year later, is far too long for the women who have been forced to travel and for the ongoing suffering? Every day women are still travelling.

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