Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I note the comments of colleagues on the Crisis Pregnancy Agency and CURA. In the light of last night's "Dispatches" report on Channel 4, a debate we should have in this House, perhaps in the presence of the Minister for Education and Science, is what we can do to promote a comprehensive respect for life in this State. Last night's documentary shows there is increasing disquiet in Britain at the experience of abortion in that jurisdiction. Even abortion providers contend that the culture is copping out morally and that they are required to undertake activities with which they are increasingly uncomfortable.

Given the money we rightly spend through advertising and so on to prevent road deaths, we should also see each abortion of an Irish child that takes place in Britain as a tragedy both for the child and its mother. We must take seriously the need to promote respect for life in our education system. I reassure colleagues who are fearful that this debate might be contentious and divisive that a comprehensive pro-life attitude encompasses equal concern for issues such as human trafficking, as highlighted by today's report that some 70 women have been forcibly trafficked into this country for participation in the sex industry. I hope the education of young people in respect for life will be comprehensive, so that future generations might look back at our abortion culture and the contradiction it represents in terms of our pro-life stance on other issues.