Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 7, lines 19 and 20, to delete all words from and including “or” in line 19 down to and including “2004” in line 20 and substitute “or any institution listed in the Schedule”.

On Committee Stage I proposed the deletion of the same part I propose for deletion in this amendment. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, said that by deleting this part, I would prevent the three Dublin maternity hospitals from being registered and designated. The reason I have made this proposal is that I do not want to see clinics such as the Marie Stopes clinic being approved to carry out abortions. Even many of the people who have a different perspective on this issue from mine and who are pro-choice feel the Marie Stopes organisation is not an appropriate one to which we should refer any woman about whom we care. The amendment amends the proposal I made on Committee Stage. While I still seek the deletion of the same part, I wish to include the words "any institution listed in the Schedule". This part of the Bill would then read: "The Minister may by order, where he or she thinks it appropriate for the purpose of this Act, specify any institution managed by the executive or any institution listed in the Schedule". I hope the Minister will see his way to accepting the amendment. This morning we read an account in the newspapers of the unfortunate death of a woman in England who attended the Marie Stopes clinic. This is not the type of clinic we would like to see established here.

On this issue, there was a significant debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly about three months ago on a motion tabled by Mr. Paul Girvan, MLA, chairman of the justice committee, which asked for such procedures to be carried out only within NHS facilities. Unfortunately, the motion was defeated by Sinn Féin on the basis of the cross-community provisions. I urge the Minister to give careful consideration to the amendment which I hope he will accept.