Results 1,861-1,880 of 3,241 for speaker:Brian Ó Domhnaill

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The reason I have referred to these comments in the course of the debate, as raised by Senator Jim Walsh in the past few days, is that it is actually what happens, regardless of whether we like it. I have seen videos and educated myself. It would nearly make me sick to look at the procedure that takes place. I am not coming at this from a medical point of view. It is gruesome, barbaric...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Uncomfortable as those words may be to people who find themselves forced to vote for the legislation, it is the truth.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Unless the Senator is aware of some other way in which abortions are carried out, I do not think that is a point of order.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: That is shameful.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Name the people.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Yes. Amendment No. 6 is that of Senators Mac Conghail and O'Donnell. I understand this would basically remove protection from any unborn child prior to viability. If I am right in that, I want to say that, obviously, I would oppose it. I do not think I need say any more about that. My own amendment No. 8 relates to the issue of viability. I am not trying to remove any protection for...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: In reference to the amendments tabled on the issue of life, particularly amendments Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, the one thing that is very apparent in the legislation - indeed, in its Title, the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill - is that it contains no legal definition of "life". What exactly are we protecting if we are not protecting life? Perhaps that is something the Minister of...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I would be happy to do that. For the avoidance of doubt, I refer again to the definition of life. Where is there contained in the Bill such a definition? I have not observed it. Perhaps the Minister of State might outline that. The Bill is entitled the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill - where is the legal definition that relates to the protection of "life" contained within it?...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I did not refer to amendment No. 6 but I will refer generally to the Bill. I thought when it was not moved that I could not refer specifically to it.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I mostly agree with the Government wording, as it gives a fairer reflection. There is the idea that we move from reclassifying "unborn" to a "foetus" but I have never heard a couple say they are expecting a foetus. They expect a child.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Maybe some couples would refer to it otherwise but I have never heard of it.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I mostly agree with the Government's terminology. I have a question regarding section 2, with the definition of unborn and the idea of "complete emergence". There is no reference throughout the section to "complete emergence" and what that means. In reference to human life, the reference is to life during the period of time commencing after implantation in the womb and ending on the...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The debate in recent days on this issue has left me flabbergasted, to say the least.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I am referring to section 2. Every time a Senator on the side of the House speaks with a viewpoint, we are challenged and castigated and called names by people who do not agree with the viewpoint.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: This is not democracy.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: And so it should be.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: This Bill is more important than any financial or social Bill which has come before the House since I became a Senator. It has to do with life and death. It is as simple as that. Every section of the Bill and every line of it should be debated in the greatest detail possible. Senators are hoping the Seanad will not be abolished while at the same time they are trying to abolish the...

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Everyone in the House is equal, and everyone in the House should be afforded the opportunity to express his or her opinion in a dignified manner.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I firmly believe the truth sometimes does hurt. If it does not lie with where one comes from it does not mean it is not the truth.

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2013)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I have the greatest respect for the Fianna Fáil leader in the Seanad, and he is entitled to his opinion as I am entitled to mine, but I would never state the opinion of another Member of the House was less important.