Paul Bradford (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to support my colleagues on the amendments before us. I spoke on the matter to the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, when he was here yesterday. He simply dismissed our views, which is not surprising because he did say during the course of this debate that he was not open to any amendments except what he described as "technical amendments". These are more than technical amendments. These are amendments about the philosophy behind the Bill and where we wish to take the country. They go to the very core of what the legislation is truly about, as opposed to the mantra and spin we have had over the past number of months, namely, that it is about saving women's lives. As I said, everybody in this House and in the other House, everybody in this country, wants to save women's lives. However, to use that spin to put through an abortion Bill is a very inappropriate way of practising politics.

A most convincing case has been made for these amendments, particularly with regard to the need to provide some type of anaesthetic to the baby whose life is being ended. Senators Mary Ann O'Brien, Healy Eames and Mullen have made a very substantial case.

In trying to accept the concept behind all of this legislation, we have to remove ourselves a little from reality. Many young children, when their mother is due another baby, believe the stork somehow comes and delivers the baby. Of course, they grow up from that sort of fantasy land. We are actually trying to introduce a new sort of fantasy whereby, when an abortion happens, the stork comes along and somehow the baby disappears - that there is actually no procedure, no pain, no stress, no duress. Let us not live in that fantasy land. Let us face what is actually happening. Let us deal with the inconvenient truth put on the record of this House by Senator Walsh two days ago, which appeared to cause huge distress. We are talking about life and death. We are talking about all the gory details of this procedure, and let us not pretend otherwise. At least, however, as a so-called civilised society, let us try to put in place some type of pain alleviation. I am not an expert in that field but many of the Minister's colleagues are. In particular, I would be very interested in a response to the question raised by Senator Mullen as to whether the Department of Health has reflected upon this. My understanding is that this amendment was not tabled in the other House.