Results 121-140 of 3,241 for speaker:Brian Ó Domhnaill

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Preschool Services (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I thank the Minister of State. I know it is not under the direct remit of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to deal with this, but what is happening is that preschool teachers, because the rates of pay are so low in Gaeltacht areas, are leaving to work as special needs assistants for the Department of Education and Skills. If this continues, we will have no preschool availability...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I support the amendment and I will add to Senator Mullen's remarks. The amendment seeks to ensure that unintended consequences are mitigated and that the legislation could not in some way be used for an unintended objective outside that which the legislation sets out to achieve. Technology is advancing and continually evolving in Ireland or elsewhere. The legislation before us will...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I understand where Senator Norris is coming from and I intend to get to the point where I will refer directly to the Bill but giving this context is important because it is setting the contextual picture on what could happen. We are trying to mitigate against unintended consequences which can come with all legislation. We are trying to support the Minister in mitigating against those. We...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I did not refer to any doctor. I referred to a private company.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: The transcripts will show that I referred to a private company named P4ML based in County Cork which, as I mentioned, campaigned to support the "Yes" campaign in the referendum and presumably there would be economic advantages for doing so.That is a fact.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Yes it is.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It is an economic fact.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Dr. Malone -----

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: Technically, my point is correct. I listened back to the doctor. I have the utmost respect for all of these doctors. They have their own opinion and they are entitled to it, just as I am entitled to my opinion and the Minister is entitled to his. I know the Minister has a difficult job to do and this is not an easy piece of legislation to steer through both Houses. We all have an...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I appreciate the opportunity. I appreciate that the Minister has spoken and I respect that. I want to attach a personal story to this issue before we conclude on the area of disabilities.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It is. Perhaps some would deny me that right.

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I am extremely grateful for the objectivity of the Cathaoirleach and I thank him for that protection. What we raised here were facts. It is a fact that the three doctors to whom I referred stated that screening can be carried out at nine weeks. The technology exists. It is also a fact that the results can be back within four days or a week. That is well within the window of 12 weeks. I...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I have the opportunity to raise it here today and I am doing that. I appeal to the Minister to close off the loophole because there is one. It is black and white. We have to agree on that at least. Not to agree on that would be to say that the doctors, Rhona O'Mahony and Fergal Malone are wrong in their contention that they screen at nine weeks because it is a proven fact that screening...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I move amendment No. 35:In page 10, between lines 16 and 17, to insert the following:“Protection of Infants born alive 13.(1) In this section “born alive” means the complete emergence of a foetus from the body of the woman, regardless of the state of gestational development, who, after emergence, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached,...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: To add to what Senator Mullen has just said, the amendment or the addition of the new section is crystal clear. Part 1 provides the definition of born alive. Part 2 outlines what doctors should do. The Minister outlined that the guidelines cover that and that best medical practice would cover that in any event. There is no reason not to accept this amendment if that is the case because it...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I support Senator Mullen on both amendments in the area of foetal pain. The objective of these amendments is to create a duty to ensure that an unborn baby feels no pain during the actual abortion procedure where appropriate and practicable in the judgment of the treating doctor. The amendment would have the effect of ensuring that a baby who is about to have his or her life ended during a...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I will be very brief and will not repeat myself. I thank the Chairman because he has been very fair. Senator Colm Burke and Senator Norris mentioned doctors and the Minister has a soundbite which is, "We should trust doctors". This is not about not trusting doctors - this is about supporting doctors by putting a public policy position in place which would be universally accepted across the...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: I wish to add to what has been stated by my colleague on amendments Nos. 40 and 45, which I support. I acknowledge that Senator Mullen outlined that these amendments will not be pressed here today but they have been tabled for a reason. Amendment No. 45 requires parental notification in respect of an abortion performed on a minor under the age of 16 except in circumstances where it is in...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: During the discussion of this issue in the Dáil, the very exceptional situation whereby the father of a girl aged under 16 is responsible for the pregnancy was raised. It was again referred to by Senator Norris. Some Members oppose the amendment on the basis that it could empower the rapist in such very extreme situations to influence the girl's decision. Such situations are...

Seanad: Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (11 Dec 2018)

Brian Ó Domhnaill: It is a 30-year peer-reviewed study.