Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This section states: "The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas." I do not know if the Minister of State was following the debate this morning but I raised the issue of foetal pain, which is considerable. I decided not to press the amendment to give the Minister a chance to examine the evidence over the weekend and to give us an opportunity to reflect as well. However, one of the requests I made was that an anaesthetist would be present to administer pain relief to the unborn foetus at the point of ending his or her life. I would consider that a valid expense under this section. I ask the Minister to consider that. I do not know any Member of this House who would wish for an unborn baby to suffer pain when their life is being ended.

I wish to make another point. In other countries this is a huge industry. I do not have the figures to hand, but the Planned Parenthood Federation of America made approximately $97 million last year from abortions. An issue has been raised with me and perhaps the Minister of State can allay my fears. The Minister has said we cannot impose term limits because of the X case. I have huge difficulty with that. In the course of the health committee hearings I asked the former Supreme Court Judge, Catherine McGuinness, if she thought it was right that we do not have term limits. She said the Government should give it a go. It is on the record. When I was speaking to her privately afterwards she said she did not know any Supreme Court judge who would strike it down. However, this Bill does not provide for term limits. Every other country in the world has term limits. It has been put to me that Ireland will now become an attractive place for people from around the world to come to for late term abortions.