Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I refer to a comment by Senator Paul Bradford regarding the proposed abortion legislation, the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013. He said that he did not think that hiding under a Whip was the correct way for Oireachtas Members to approach such a contentious Bill. He is quite right and I ask the Leader whether we should have a debate on the operation of the Whip and the possibility of a free vote on an unprecedented life and death issue such as this. In other jurisdictions, conscience issues of such moment are the subject of a free vote.

I prefer that the Fine Gael Party keeps its election promise and one could argue against a Whip on the basis that everybody signed up to a particular promise but it is infinitely preferable to breaking that promise and legislating for abortion to allow people at least the freedom of their consciences. Many Deputies and Senators are deeply troubled by this legislation. I do not have to remind colleagues either that this House is under scrutiny these days and it is important that we show our distinctiveness and that we take issues perhaps more seriously on occasions than the other House. More important - and another reason - are the extremely disturbing comments made by the Minister for Health on Sunday when he admitted that the Bill would probably result in more babies being delivered having suffered damage because of their premature delivery.