Imelda Henry (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, I spent six long days in this Chamber listening to the testimony of various expert witnesses. There were various conflicting views among these experts, some arising from their professional capacities and others relating to their personal views. I have the utmost respect for everybody's view but, for me, this debate is about women, specifically pregnant women.

No one knows more about pregnancy than women. I know men play their part, but they do not become pregnant. I hope the female Members of this House support this Bill.

As a woman and mother of a teenager, I support this legislation for the X case. I know it is not always possible to save both mother and baby. We must protect our doctors in the rare event that the mother's life is at risk and a termination is required. The language of suspicion that surrounds suicidal ideation in pregnant women does a disservice to the women of this country. It shames vulnerable women. I commend Senator Gilroy on his speech today. I am aware his background means he knows what he is talking about. What he said was very true and I say "Well done". We must trust our doctors.

Senator Clune mentioned pro-life. I believe we are all pro-life, but I am quite disturbed by the behaviour of the pro-life campaigners, particularly over the past two days when they have asked Senators to reject this Bill in return for their vote to save the Seanad. I am very disturbed by that because we are talking about women's lives. I am a proud member of the Fine Gael Party and I commend the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health on bringing forward this legislation. The Bill aims to protect women during pregnancy in the future and to save lives. It is not about killing babies, but about saving women's lives.

I hope we will all support this Bill because it is important legislation. In years to come, I will be proud to have been a member of a party in the Government that brought forward this legislation.