Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I second the amendment. How many of the institutions or hospitals listed in Schedule 1 have facilities for the intensive care of newborn babies? One would expect that all those hospitals would have such facilities if the Bill seriously intends to protect both lives, even though we know it does not protect the unborn child. It is my understanding that is not the case and a large proportion of the facilities listed do not have those dedicated facilities. I yield to the Minister of State. I believe it is important to find out how many of the facilities being included under this legislation have those types of facilities for the intensive care of newborn babies. We need to know that.

It is a very reasonable amendment that my colleagues Senators Walsh and Wilson have put forward to ensure that such facilities would be compulsory in any hospital setting within the public system that is going to be used under this Bill in what is defined as medical practice. We know that the medical practice is an abortion. It is a glossary term for the medical practice. Reference was made to Senator Walsh's naming the person who is head of the HSE. We are parliamentarians and we have every right to name someone who is responsible for a budget within the HSE, over 50% of which is tax revenue generated by the State. Let us reflect on that truth.