Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief, having listened to the debate on the monitor. I refer to fatal foetal abnormality and the group of amendments tabled in that regard which I cannot and will not support. I, too, attended those meetings at the kind invitation of Senator Mullen. I met the One Day More group and have had personal experience of families who have made that very tough decision, who have had children born dead or who died, that nonetheless became part of the family. We also met families that day who had received the diagnosis that their child would not survive outside the womb. In some instances, however, they did, and for a significant length of time.

Perhaps it is a matter for the next session but after that presentation I called on several occasions for us to have a proper and full debate on perinatal care, and the resources available to families who find themselves in this situation. I know the Minister's diary has been full in recent months so I did not push the issue as hard as I would have liked but I would like him to give a commitment to return to the House in the new session for a debate on perinatal care. The levels of care in that area are not what I would wish for. I fully understand we are in straitened times, to put it mildly. Some of the stories and testimonies I listened to that morning were very touching but there was also reference to either the care families received after the event, or the lack thereof. Legislating to permit abortion on the ground of fatal foetal abnormality is not something I would support.

Senator Bradford covered very well the awful situation of rape and incest, two disgusting crimes, as we would all agree. One must point out that the life of a viable child is ended on the basis that a terrible crime has been perpetrated on the mother. Again, that is not something I would support. Following this debate, however, perhaps in September or October or during that session, we might have a debate and put our heads together as legislators to consider how we can improve perinatal care. We have never had a full debate on that subject in this Chamber. Senator Mullen has called for one, as have other Senators, but we have never had an opportunity to discuss the issue specifically. That is something I would like. I wish to put on record that I will not support any of the amendments tabled by my Independent colleagues.