Results 1,161-1,180 of 4,465 for speaker:Jim Walsh

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

Jim Walsh: I listened to what the Minister, Deputy Reilly has to say with regard to the wording of the amendment. I am still not persuaded by the explanation he has given. I acknowledge that he has gone to check some of the points that were made here,-----

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

Jim Walsh: -----which is useful. I am surprised that these issues were not anticipated and that he had to go outside his Department to get that information.

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

Jim Walsh: I accept fully the point he made about the procedures in Ireland and that the ones I described are not applying here. I accept that current medical practice in Ireland is not something in this area with which I would have difficulty. My problem is that by not defining medical procedures, the Minister is wide open to those procedures falling in line with those that are happening...

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

Jim Walsh: I move amendment No. 16: In page 8, to delete line 34, and in page 9, to delete lines 1 and 2 and substitute the following:"(ii) in their reasonable opinion (being an opinion formed on reasonable grounds and in good faith which has regard to the right to life of the unborn), that risk can only be averted by carrying out the medical procedure,".This is an important amendment. It proposes the...

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

Jim Walsh: I am glad the Minister took on board the question and that he sought clarification from, presumably, one of the masters of the hospital on that issue. I note that the Minister said "is" - in other words the present tense. I fully accept that in Ireland today any procedure that is done is to treat the mother and the mother's life threatening condition and, therefore, an indirect consequence...

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

Jim Walsh: The reference I made on Second Stage was to what happens in the US. I made clear what I was dealing with. I spoke today about procedures and the Minister has confirmed that both medical and surgical interventions will be required if one is to abort a baby. I accept what he said. I ask the Minister to correct me if I am wrong, that the medical procedure would be in the first six weeks and...

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

Jim Walsh: I am not asking the Senator. After that, my understanding is that one is into the medical procedure again, which the Minister described, but in all instances the baby does not survive. It is the killing of the baby. That is the situation. That is my fundamental substantive objection to the Bill. In this instance I would like the Minister to clarify the cusp of viability which is what I...

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

Jim Walsh: I accept the Minister may not have that answer to hand. With due respect, he does not. If he has, I ask him to repeat it, but I certainly did not pick up on it. What he did say was that if they act outside the Act they are unlawful. This deals with a situation where the life is ended. Where a life is not ended but the baby is seriously injured and disabled, what is the position? In...

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

Jim Walsh: It is a point of disorder.

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

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister for his response, particularly with regard to the proposal to replace the word "is" with the words "may be". His comments are not in accordance with the legal advice I have read. He said he had received advice from the Attorney General. I asked him this morning whether it would be possible for that advice to be made available in writing. I heard what the Minister said...

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

Jim Walsh: I will be brief, because Senator Mullen has covered much of what I wanted to say. I too have tabled this amendment, changing "is ended" to "may be ended" in the hope that it may provide some change to the intent of the Bill. I have a legal opinion which states that, most importantly of all, the expressed definition of "medical procedure" provided for by sections 7 to 9, inclusive, leaves no...

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

Jim Walsh: If the Minister of State cared about women-----

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

Jim Walsh: That does not make it right.

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

Jim Walsh: This section provides that all abortions will be paid for from taxpayers' money. There is an issue of conscience here, particularly for pro-life people. They will be appalled that the hard earned money they submit to the State in tax would be used for section 9 abortions, in particular. I have concerns about that. Other jurisdictions do not do that. They recognise that there is an issue...

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

Jim Walsh: I concur with Senator Mullen. We have a good maternal health system and the outputs are exceptional. Occasionally, people will get sepsis caused by superbugs. Unfortunately, it leads to their demise and that of their babies. The neighbouring island has a liberal abortion regime, but some argue that this Bill is more liberal, in that any baby aged more than 24 weeks on the neighbouring...

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

Jim Walsh: I thank the Minister of State for her reply. My intention was not to exclude any of the maternity hospitals. I note that they are listed. My intention was to ensure that a Marie Stopes clinic could not be approved by any future Minister as an institution that could lawfully carry out the medical procedure. I take on board the Minister of State's point that the hospitals are listed in the...

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

Jim Walsh: I move amendment No. 10: In page 7, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: "(iv) facilities for the intensive care of newborns,".This amendment seeks to add to the required facilities to be provided in hospitals, facilities for the intensive care of newborns. We have heard evidence to the effect that 50% of babies delivered on reaching the stage of viability will die and that the...

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

Jim Walsh: Will the Minister of State confirm to the House how many of the hospitals listed have specialist intensive care units for newborns?

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

Jim Walsh: I would welcome receipt of that information prior to Report Stage.

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

Jim Walsh: I think that charge was made by Senator Mullen. I made no such charge. I am concerned not that doctors will not do their job but that doctors will have the resources and facilities to do their job. The greatest concern of many during the hearings by the health committee on the risk to life of women in pregnancy was the lack of such resources.