Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

It is seldom that good news stories are raised on the Order of Business. Senator O'Toole brought a significant good news story to our notice this morning, namely, the decrease in women travelling abroad for abortions. This is significant because people are contemplating the consequences of abortion for those unfortunate women. There is a sense of guilt and psychological problems. Those who use the women in the debate on abortion forget them very quickly afterwards. There are no surveys or follow up statistics available but this matter is coming to the fore. I do not believe there is need for a debate on abortion. We know what happened in the past and how divisive it was.

We should debate how to help people with unwanted pregnancies. This has not been put forward for discussion. We dealt with the two extremes but seldom thought of the people directly involved. I ask the Leader for a debate in that context and the Seanad could provide leadership. Abortion is not an answer to anyone's problem. It demeans human life and it does not help if legislators do not consider the life of everyone, including the unborn.