David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the legislation on abortion, I welcome it but I do not think it goes far enough. I do not think it appropriate that a woman who is carrying a foetus that has no brain and no capacity to live whatever should be forced to carry that to term. It should also be a procedure available to women who are the victims of rape or incest. I believe those two matters will come back to haunt us because I do not believe it actually faces the problem squarely.

I do not rejoice in abortion. Over many years, I have said that I reject the colonisation of language by people who have taken to themselves the term "pro-life". I am very glad to see this language system is being challenged and it should be more widely challenged.

I heard on the radio today that some members of the Labour Party were claiming this as a victory, which is regrettable.