Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have no intention of sanitising my language on any Stage of the debate so as to facilitate the passage of horrific practices into law. I make no apology for describing them as barbaric.

I wish to test the Minister on what he told us, having conferred with Holles Street. If what the institute claims is correct, namely, that current medical practice is all that we would be allowing, will the Minister accept my amendment? It would clarify that the "medical procedure shall be in accordance with current medical practice in Ireland and circumscribed by regulation". This would not satisfy me on the substance of the Bill, as it would still mean unborn babies would be unnecessarily killed under section 9. I have made my position clear on sections 7 and 8. I have no difficulty with them and no argument to make against any intervention or treatment for a woman whose life is medically at risk.

When it comes to pretending that abortion can resolve and abate suicidal intent when the evidence clearly states it does not but can exacerbate the mental condition and suicidal ideation, it is something we should not be doing.

I am asking that even if the Minister is moving in the direction he is now going, we could at least confine actions to current medical practice, and that would be clearly circumscribed by regulation. If the Minister fails to accept that, it raises questions about his intention. It would also raise serious questions about the practices that may operate in Ireland. I accept that the Minister may subsequently bring in regulations and the Irish Medical Organisation may also introduce regulations and guidelines to circumscribe what can be done. Without us including that in legislation, as parliamentarians we would be saying that we are happy for those practices to be carried out. At the very least we are saying that we are not unhappy and we are not prepared to press the button to try to stop those practices. That is a challenge and we must all reflect on it when it comes to voting.