Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats)

No, not the House of Lords, I speak of the three women who are taking a case to the European Court of Human Rights on the matter of abortion. It is high time we in this country decided our laws for ourselves. As a mature democracy, we should do so. I ask the Leader to ask the Taoiseach to introduce legislation to deal with this issue at home so that nobody can accuse any other body, parliamentary or otherwise, of usurping the powers and the authority of the Irish people. All too often the question of abortion is bundled into other issues, such as the Lisbon treaty, and becomes clouded. It is high time we debated that issue here. We see the number of people who are going abroad to procure abortions - they no longer go only to the UK - yet the issue is ignored time after time and it comes back to haunt us.

I am sure the Government read this morning's story with some horror, thinking this was just what it does not need when the Lisbon treaty referendum is approaching. This is what happens when issues are not dealt with properly and legislation is not introduced. I agree with Senator Mullen that it is time this country decided its own laws in this regard and put options before the people. I ask the Leader to ask the Taoiseach to make this a priority so it does not come back to haunt us and so that other authorities concerned with human rights are allowed an input before the Irish people determine this issue for themselves. If we had a debate that was open and honest and simply about the facts, with the humanity and compassion that is necessary when dealing with this issue, we would all be a little surprised at how mature is our country.