Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that the expert group's report will be published this afternoon. I am glad that both Houses will have an opportunity to debate it. It is essential that a swift decision be made by the Government on the action to be taken on foot of the report. It would be surprising if the report recommended anything other than legislation, given the fact that, in the X case in the Supreme Court 20 years ago, Mr. Justice Niall McCarthy set out the need for legislation to clarify for doctors and women the circumstances in which life-saving terminations of pregnancies or abortions could be carried out. It is essential that we seek action swiftly on legislation to ensure that there are no further deaths of women in circumstances like those of Savita Halappanavar.

There has been an unsavoury debate on the question of suicide risk. It has been rather demeaning and dismissive of women to suggest-----