Results 1,841-1,860 of 6,987 for speaker:Ruth Coppinger

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

Ruth Coppinger: The word "a foetus" singular.

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

Ruth Coppinger: There is a problem with the word "foetus" because sometimes one is talking about an embryo and sometimes about a zygote. It is not the best definition in the world. I would have thought that "pregnancy" would be more all encompassing. There has been a suggestion by a couple of people who are against abortion that we are somewhat trying to sanitise the procedure by taking the word...

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

Ruth Coppinger: Welcome to the world of the Opposition.

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

Ruth Coppinger: I was going to suggest that we might be able to hear a bit more of this advice, particularly from the doctors. I do not want to be accused somehow of limiting the scope of doctors. We will withdraw the amendments but reserve the right to reintroduce them on Report Stage. We are just getting bogged down.

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

Ruth Coppinger: I move amendment No. 10In page 6, line 13, to delete “intended to end the life of a foetus” and substitute “an induced abortion to end a pregnancy using a medical or surgical procedure”.

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

Ruth Coppinger: I am speaking to amendment No. 12 but they are both similar. This is an important question. The Government itself is bringing in reviews of the Gender Recognition Act yet we are proposing legislation today that does not recognise transgender people. This is not just cosmetic. There is fear among trans people that they will be excluded should they go to their doctor. I will give the...

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

Ruth Coppinger: We also have an amendment. I feel somewhat conflicted because this is an important issue and any time it is raised we receive this answer about legal advice to which we are not privy. I know the Minister is giving us a brief outline but it is still unclear. The gist of what he said was that if we insert "pregnant person" it could leave open the potential for somebody to take a legal...

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

Ruth Coppinger: I do not see how inserting in the legislation "pregnant person", for example, could possibly have an impact on other laws. I do not see it. I am in a bit of dilemma. Obviously, there will be an opportunity to resubmit this amendment for a vote or debate in a full Dáíl, even if it is withdrawn today.

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

Ruth Coppinger: I need to hear more. It is similar to the matter earlier about the definition of the law. We are getting only a glimpse and we need a bit more legal information about the rationale for the decision. One often hears wild claims, such as during the debate on repealing the eighth amendment, and, therefore, I am not fully convinced.

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

Ruth Coppinger: I do not wish to delay the matter.

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

Ruth Coppinger: I have to go to the Dáil to speak about the schools that are falling down in my area but I just want to make a brief comment on this.particularly cruel and insensitive amendment. To put forward the idea that only someone whose life is at risk should have their termination paid for while that of any other person would not is cruel. Bringing this down to brass tacks, this would include...

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

Ruth Coppinger: The amendment states, "other than ... in a case where there is a risk to the life of the pregnant woman." The Deputy is factually wrong, it does not cater for anybody else. May I ask if the Deputy wants to keep the money in Ryanair's pockets or in the pockets of people in this country? That is the reality. The Deputy spoke about saving money but people have saved money from this. I...

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

Ruth Coppinger: I support the amendment. We have also put down amendments opposing sections 5 and 6. What is the purpose of criminalising abortion? Presumably, it is to prevent people from carrying out dangerous abortions or charging people vast sums, which would be an incentive to work outside this Act. However, what is being proposed is free and universal access so the danger of that happening is not...

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

Ruth Coppinger: To put the matter in context, such late abortions are extremely rare. When we questioned Dr. Boylan at the committee, the figure was approximately 0.1%. The amendments vary in their wording, but, generally, the fear is the same. This relates to cases where a pregnant woman needs a late abortion. The fear is that there could be hesitation because in the legislation there is a reference to...

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

Ruth Coppinger: Would another option not be to delete section 10(1)(b)? The Minister might think that is ridiculous------

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

Ruth Coppinger: -----but we are talking about a situation in which somebody's life is at risk. Doctors are not going to go around killing babies or something like that. The Minister is actually putting in a stipulation that a termination of pregnancy cannot be carried out where there is viability even if somebody's life is at risk. Would it not be better to leave that out of the law and, like the Minister...

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

Ruth Coppinger: It is only 6.45 p.m.

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

Ruth Coppinger: I move amendment No. 42:In page 9, line 10, after “out” to insert “by a competently trained medical practitioner”. This was discussed earlier, so there is no point in rehashing it. We discussed broadening the scope of what is a medical practitioner. This is another of those amendments.

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

Ruth Coppinger: There are two or three issues in this group which arise together. The Bill as it stands does not allow a voice for the pregnant woman, the person most affected by this section. That has to be corrected. It could be done in a number of ways, for example by the Minister supporting the amendments which provide for the ascertaining of the views of the woman. Amendment No. 54 is similar to...

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

Ruth Coppinger: I will leave it at that.