David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I, too, watched the "Prime Time" programme last night and anyone in the country who watched it would have sympathy for the families of Savita and Praveen Halappanavar. However, he does not simply need sympathy; he needs support from the State and all politicians. The only way he will get this support is if we have an independent public inquiry. Any inquiry that does not have the support of the Halappanavar family will not work or do justice to what happened in Galway some weeks ago. Everyone is keen to hear the truth and see justice and everyone is keen to see an inquiry that will bring about justice. However, any inquiry which does not have the family front and centre would be wrong.

Yesterday, the Taoiseach engaged in megaphone diplomacy by speaking to the Halappanavar family through the Dáil. The Taoiseach and the Minister should be engaging directly with the family instead. The inquiry is important but we have a greater responsibility to legislate because that is what we are elected to do in the Dáil and the Seanad. I was offended by some of the disgraceful comments from Labour Party and Fine Gael representatives in the Dáil yesterday when this issue was being discussed. My party was labelled opportunistic for bringing forward a simple, moderate motion calling for legislation on the X case. No political party in Ireland could be accused of being opportunistic for raising a sensitive, complex and divisive issue such as abortion. There is nothing to be gained politically by anyone on this issue. What can and should be gained is a realisation that we, as legislators, should do what we were elected to do - that is, to make laws to protect women and to ensure medical professionals have the proper advice and guidance. That is what yesterday's motion was about. Regardless, on two occasions in the Dáil in recent months both Government parties have voted down suggestions and amendments to legislation which would have filled this gap. I put it to the Leader and every legislator in the State that we should do what we have been elected to do - that is, to legislate for the X case and provide certainty for medical professionals. More importantly, we should do the right thing by the women of Ireland.