Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

My point is very clearly this, people are deeply concerned about what this legislation may import. They are deeply concerned about an apparent double speak on the part of the Government which says there is no need to identify issues around gestational limits because what the Constitution allows, and has been interpreted to allow, is not termination of life but termination of pregnancy, therefore the constitutional right to a lawful abortion does not extend to the destruction of the unborn in post-viability situations. There are amendments before this House which will seek to bring clarity to that point by establishing that a child must be protected, post-viability. That is very connected with this because an issue that will arise is the procedure that is used to end the pregnancy. It is entirely appropriate that the direct-indirect distinction which has been at the heart of quality maternal health care in this country would not be just preserved but recognised. That is exactly what Senator Walsh's amendment seeks to do.