Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is often claimed that no Government has done anything on this issue for 21 years. In fact, the Minister did not have to look very far when he was drawing up the text of this section. Much of the same language was used in the legislation drawn up by Fianna Fáil in advance of the 2002 referendum. The same language was used in respect of saving the woman's life, for example. The difference is that this Government has added on a doctor. If the 2002 referendum had been passed, there would have been a requirement for just one medical practitioner. I mention this to highlight some of the exaggerations we are hearing during this debate. I think everybody on this side of the House supported the referendum we proposed in 2002. The point I am making does not relate to section 9, obviously. That is separate. The provisions of section 9 were not included in the 2002 referendum.