Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I concur with Senators Burke and Bacik in regard to the constitutionality of this Bill and that were we to try to amend it to include fatal foetal abnormality, we might find ourselves back where we do not wish to be. This is a moment when a kind of common sense applies. We have heard the stories and have seen the courage of the women who have come forward to tell their stories and we believe that in time we will legislate for this area and that the women who choose now to travel will no longer have to travel and will not have to go through the heartbreak of bringing a baby to term in the knowledge that it will not survive. The expression used by Senator Bacik, "constitutionally unsettled", is probably the most appropriate one to explain this difficulty, but we must wait again for this issue to be brought forward. I hope that wait is not too long.

The fact we are all debating this, that people have had the courage to come forward and tell their stories and that we have engaged with the Minister on the matter, gives us hope the issue will be dealt with. I was happy to sign the letter Senator Bacik sent to the Minister last year. Many of us support the call for legislation on this now and so does the public. It is a matter of time. This is not the right time to deal with the matter, although it appears to some to be the right time. Constitutionally and legally it is not the right time and we must wait. However, I hope, for the sake of those women who have been through such a situation and who must suffer every time they hear this issue being debated and for the women in the future who will suffer, that we deal with this issue soon. Unfortunately, this is an issue that will not go away. There have been great advances in medical technology, but it has not advanced to the extent that we can avoid further fatal foetal abnormality. I, like others, look forward to the day when we will legislate to allow women protection in this area. However, we are unable to do so with this legislation.