Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for listening to concerns expressed on Second Stage, although I had no doubt that he would do so. Since entering this House in 1987, I have been attempting to have the change in question made to the legislation. I had discussions with the then Attorney General, Deputy McDowell, and the previous Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue. The current Minister clearly took the attitude that a right was no good if people did not treat it as such.

This was a practical attitude to solving a problem which was forcing doctors and women to provide false evidence in regard to confinement dates. This is a welcome Bill and I thank the Minister of State on a personal and political note for his foresight in addressing this issue.