David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

My colleague on the University benches, Senator Rónán Mullen, is a constant apostle for calm, serious and respectful debate without name-calling. It was, therefore, with a certain amount of surprise, despite the history of these matters, that he described the Marie Stopes Clinic as abortion privateers. I am not 100% sure how that fits into calm, serious and respectful debate, but no doubt it is a predictor for what will happen. The clinic has been going for a long time. It has international respect.

Senator Mullen raised this in the context of Sinn Féin exercising its constitutional and parliamentary rights in the North of Ireland to put a petition. I attended the meeting that was organised there, rather curiously, by the Democratic Unionist Party, DUP. At this tea and bun session, when I counted, there were 16 men and three women present, which I thought was quite interesting, and a letter was flourished from the Reverend Dr. Ian Paisley. I asked a number of questions, including whether this was the Dr. Paisley who had so signally failed to save Ulster from sodomy.

They did not answer the question that is referred to, rather unfortunately, in the letter I also received today from the Supreme Knight of Columbanus, who appears to be completely against allowing this regrettable procedure to take place in circumstances where the young woman has been the victim of rape or incest, or whether what she is carrying is a nerveless, brainless, headless piece of tissue, which is a matter that was referred to in a most dignified and tragic letter by a young woman some years ago. It is obscene for these persons to try to force the situation on them.