Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am extremely disappointed with the Minister's response but I am not surprised as it is consistent with the manner in which the Bill was drafted. First, it totally ignored all of the professional evidence presented over six days of health committee hearings. Second, a significant number of amendments were tabled in the Dáil but they have been ignored. Third, we have only reached the first amendment so far today. I guarantee the Leas-Chathaoirleach that when we reach amendment No. 62, or No. 86 as it was numbered for Committee Stage, every amendment will have been ignored by the Minister. He is in a rush to introduce legislation that will not advance the protection of women in any shape or form and will probably have an adverse affect on many women who will have abortions under this legislation. Obviously we all know the effect that it will have on unborn babies.

With regard to some of the points made by the Minister, at 18 to 21 days a baby has a heartbeat and at around 41 days professionals and research have shown that a baby has brainwaves. I have read into the record here that babies at 11 weeks have a placenta around them to supply food and oxygen. They can make complex facial expressions and can even smile. All bodily systems work at 11 weeks. At 16 weeks the child can use its hand to grasp which ultrasound can prove and he or she can swim and do somersaults. At 18 weeks the child is active and energetic, flexing muscles, punching and kicking. Any woman who is pregnant will be well aware of the child's movements at that stage.

We have the scenario where what I described is regarded as disgusting and, by some people, language that we should not have used. There are people who would love to see this language sanitised to the extent that people are unaware of the barbaric effects of abortion. That is how the evil abortion industry has survived and grown across the globe.

I applaud the Minister for stating the reality of the tobacco industry. A relative of his died from smoking and my mother died from smoking. The tobacco industry prevented the disclosure of medical research and information that could have saved many lives. The industry sat on that information because it was motivated by profit and has shown a total disregard for humanity and its fellow human beings.