Results 9,061-9,080 of 12,710 for speaker:Louise O'Reilly

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: I second what Deputy Donnelly has said about going into private session to pick out the amendments that are related. Many of them can be grouped together, but there are a few that cannot. We are in the hands of the Chairman, but it might be the sensible thing to do. Otherwise this will be a very wide-ranging discussion.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: I move amendment No. 4:In page 6, line 5, after “register” to insert “and such other healthcare practitioners as may be defined by the Minister from time to time”. I will not speak for other Deputies, but my reason for tabling the amendment is to make provision to allow a future Minister for Health to expand the cohort of healthcare practitioners who may provide...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: Midwives for Choice and the Midwives Association of Ireland have made very comprehensive submissions on the matter which members may benefit from reading thoroughly. It was suggested that enabling nurses and midwives to do what many of them are trained to do, which is to prescribe, would somehow be dangerous. I do not agree. Although I do not want to put words in his mouth, I assume that...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: Based on the Minister's comments and in light of the fact that he will consider the submissions from Midwives for Choice and the Midwives Association of Ireland, I will withdraw the amendment while reserving the right to re-table it. To be clear, the intention was to future-proof the legislation by having the capacity to expand the service after day one. The gulf between us is not massive...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: They are in the names of members who are present.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: They also deal with it.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: But amendment No. 7 is separate.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: I move amendment No. 7:In page 6, lines 12 and 13, to delete “, in relation to a pregnant woman, means a medical procedure which is intended to end the life of a foetus” and substitute “means induced abortion to end a pregnancy using a medical or surgical procedure”. When I spoke on Second Stage, I was clear about my opposition to the use of the language of the...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: The purpose of amendment No. 7 is to get rid of language. I am not speaking for other people but, to varying degrees, a view has been expressed by the members that the language is not satisfactory. Is there a sense that the Minister is amenable to further discussions and potentially revisiting that language? The Minister can hear from the points made the difficulty we have with the...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: I understand that but the Minister is being a bit unfair when he says the intention is to include "nicer" language. It is not about nicer language but more inclusive, less stigmatising language. There is broad agreement between us and using a phrase like that is not helpful.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: That is not the intention, clearly.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: The amendment is withdrawn and I will resubmit.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: I move amendment No. 11:In page 6, line 14, to delete “means a female person of any age” and substitute “means a person of any age who can become pregnant”. The purpose of the amendment is to make the language inclusive and to future-proof it. It is clear that members of the LGBT community were very much part of the referendum campaign. They were our allies and...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: The reason these amendments are being proposed is in response to the trans community who we must consult to ensure this legislation is fit for purpose. I share the concern expressed by Deputy Donnelly about a doctor sitting in a surgery, looking at the law and wondering what is allowed and what the risks are. It is a serious issue. We have the right to revisit this but in the meantime...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: No one is attacking you.

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: I am interested in the amendment. I first heard about this notion when it was put forward by a well-known businessman and I am curious about where it came from. Personally, and on behalf of my party, we are in the business of trying to ensure that we maximise universality. In fact, I wish that the Minister was more committed to universality than-----

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: -----but we will not argue that here. I urge the Deputy who proposed the amendment to consider the case of pregnant rape victims who live in direct provision, and tease out the potential consequences and hurt caused. The majority of people have spoken, we know the results of the referendum and there is going to be legislation. It is open to us to ensure that the services are available to a...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: I move amendment No. 14:In page 6, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following: "Guarantee of access5. (1) The Minister for Health shall ensure that pregnant women may access abortion care in accordance with the terms of this Act in a safe and timely manner. The Minister shall be responsible for the provision and regulation of abortion care to the highest attainable standards. (2)...

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: As the Minister appears to agree with the intent and more or less the substance of the amendment, if I were to be smart I could ask that if there is nothing in the amendment that he is not going to be doing, what is the harm of including the amendment?

Select Committee on Health: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2018)

Louise O'Reilly: The Minister may have won a bet. The purpose of our amendment is to ensure that access is guaranteed. We clearly have a concern and other people outside of this process have indicated they may have a concern. I am personally happy to withdraw this amendment. I am not going to push the committee to a vote but I do reserve the right to submit something similar on Report Stage on the basis...