Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I welcome the comments of Senators Leyden and Keaveney in the context of the abortion issue and those of Senator Keaveney on the need for a debate about respect for life more generally. On a related issue, the House already has held an important debate on funding for CURA and the role of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency in the past. An interesting development has taken place of which Members should be aware and that may require them to have a debate at the earliest opportunity. I refer to the latest report of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which is the body for doctors in both Ireland and Britain. It pertains to the difficult question of whether there is a link between induced abortion and an increased risk of mental illness in women. It is important that one neither understates nor overstates in respect of this highly sensitive issue. However, if one compares the college's latest report, which was produced at the request of a House of Commons select committee, with its 1994 report, it is clear there has been a major shift and that a debate is beginning about this very difficult question. While the Royal College of Psychiatrists basically acknowledges there is evidence to show a link, it is not conclusive and the college has called for more research on whether induced abortion is associated with an increased risk of mental illness in women.

The issue for Members is that of informed consent because they must ask what the Crisis Pregnancy Agency will do to ensure that organisations which provide pregnancy counselling at present will draw to women's attention the issue that now has been raised and which is on the agenda. I refer to a possible risk, which is much more than that according to some studies. At the very least, as the Royal College of Psychiatrists has noted, informed consent must involve giving women adequate and appropriate information about the possible impacts. This is a major public health issue and touches on the need to affirm the dignity of all persons in our society.

I was mystified to hear the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors calling for the televising of criminal trials in the case of manslaughter, murder and kidnapping. I wondered what planet I or they were on. It may be there is a genuine belief that this might help matters. Alternatively, it may be that in the crassness of our public relations culture — I speak as a former public relations person — people believe that as long as one says something that garners publicity, it is worth saying.

Members should be clear. This proposal would add to the sensationalism that already surrounds our criminal justice system. Moreover, it would militate against the rights of victims and would hinder fair trials. I welcome the comments made this morning by my colleague at the Bar, Seán Gillane. Members should not heed this call. While there may be possible benefits, they are greatly outweighed by the major disadvantages. A major problem exists regarding the manner in which our criminal justice system is turned into entertainment for many. Members should discuss serious issues such as our bail system and whether it is working, whether people are being unduly detained or deprived of bail, or the incarceration of young offenders. Members should be discussing such issues and not the televising of trials, which as a proposal has a bread and circuses feel to it.