Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On this particular amendment, I have listened to some of the debate. It is not true, as the Government would claim, that it is legislating for abortion on the grounds of threatened suicide but simply clarifying pre-existing constitutional law. Successive Governments have deliberately refrained from legislating for the X case because it was medically baseless and fundamentally unjust. No constitutional crisis ensued in the 21 years that have been spoken about. This legislation gives explicit support for the judgment and provides a mechanism whereby the right to life of an innocent child can be extinguished.

Thus far, the X case has not resulted in abortions taking place in Ireland but this legislation will.