Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like the debate to proceed and, speaking specifically on section 2, I want to refer to the definition of the unborn and a response given by the Minister, Deputy Reilly, which was not correct. The state of being unborn is defined in the Bill as ending on the complete emergence of the life from the body of the woman. Therefore, until complete emergence occurs the unborn is in principle vulnerable to a lawful termination under the Bill. What the Minister, Deputy Reilly, stated this morning is wrong. It is completely wrong to state that partial birth abortions are not permitted by the Bill. He called it infanticide. It is permitted by the Bill. The definition on page 7 describes it as the complete emergence of the life from the body of the woman. The Bill before us allows partial birth abortions.