Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I renew my request to the Leader that we not just have a debate on this when the legislation eventually comes to the House. It is not a good idea that whatever the Government proposes to introduce in the draft heads of a Bill would be developed and discussed at the health committee first. There is an unequal relationship between Deputies and Senators in that committee. This is a life and death issue which should be discussed at the heads of a Bill stage in each House. Senator Healy Eames and Deputy Brian Walsh have laid bare the fiction that this is about necessary medical or life-saving treatment. All of that is just spin. This is about a dangerous and destructive proposal to introduce abortion on a ground of threatened suicide for which there is no medical evidence.

Last week we heard from more than 100 psychiatrists, representing 90% of those who responded, who are deeply concerned about the way their profession would be compromised by being drawn into something that is not evidence-based.