Paul Bradford (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a Seanad amendment, not a Dáil amendment. However, if the Minister's officials have not yet reflected on this amendment, will they let the Minister know? No Minister and no Government can know everything. Will the Minister's officials let him know what evidence and studies are available to them to reflect upon the pain element of abortion, and what we can do to at least try to alleviate it? Will the Minister at least assure us that he and his officials will sit down and come forward with the studies and scientific papers, and we can then reflect on it on Report Stage? That would at least be a sign of good faith. How can any civilised society anywhere, not just in this country, justify the opposition to introducing pain relief?