Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I had not intended raising this matter again because it has been widely aired yesterday but as Senator Bacik saw fit to introduce the issue of the illegal practices carried out by family planning clinics it is important to reiterate that all the contributions made yesterday have not gone away. It is important that either the Minister for Justice and Equality or the Minister for Health should make a statement to the House about the investigation carried out. Senator Bacik suggested that just one newspaper raised this matter and she also introduced extraneous matters. This seems to be another attempt by the Senator because of her own views to deflect from the core issues of this important issue which needs to be raised continually in order to get to the bottom of it. If is it happening in that particular area, how many other places is it happening where crisis pregnancies are being affected?

In common with my colleague, Deputy Frank Feighan, I am sure Members will join me in acknowledging that at the weekend we are commemorating the 94th anniversary of the ending of the war to end all wars. We have often spoken about acknowledging the Northern Unionist tradition. We now have a shared tradition of the experience of the horrors of the First World War. Over the decades, many families have silently grieved for those who died in this war. In recent years, the Government and civic society in general have allowed them to come out into the sunlight and publicly acknowledge the contribution that was made by Irishmen who believed they were fighting for Irish freedom. I think it is now accepted that the subsequent events of our history should not diminish the ultimate sacrifice they made in the belief that they acted in the interests of Ireland's future. It is only right and proper that the House should acknowledge the commemorative activities taking place this weekend. I am honoured to be a member of the newly formed North-South parliamentary tier. It is incumbent on us as elected representatives to ensure that the sacrifices Irishmen made at that time continue to be acknowledged publicly.