Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I extend my deepest sympathy to the family of the woman in Galway. Their grieving has been made much harder by the fact that the case has been made so public and it is a very contentious issue in our State. The people spoke in a referendum and firmly placed responsibility upon their Oireachtas representatives to deal with the issue by means of legislation. While many people hold their own personal views, values and beliefs, we were elected as legislators and, ultimately, responsibility comes with that role. As elected representatives and legislators, it is important we act to deal with the difficult issues caused for women and medical practitioners in this State by the current absence of legislation. We are now no longer dealing with what ifs or hypothetical situations. The reality of the absence of legislation for the X case has finally hit home. We have seen that in Galway and it is not acceptable. There is an expert group and it was reported in the Dáil today that the Minister, Deputy Reilly, has received that expert group's report last night. I would like to know when it will be made public and when will we finally have sight of legislation to deal with this issue.

Senator Norris raised a number of pertinent and important questions that need to be answered. This issue will be on the agenda for a long time into the future and as legislators we need to respond and deal with it as a matter of urgency and priority because the reality has hit home. We are not dealing with a hypothetical situation. A tragedy has occurred and we now have to deal with this issue to prevent this happening to other women in the future. As Senator Heffernan said, such women could be our sisters, parents or daughters and the current position cannot continue to prevail any longer.