Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is an attempt by humanity to stare ideology in the face. I would also like to note the paternalism of Senator Burke’s suggestion that we have listened to doctors and therefore we have no business here setting out the rules for what should or should not happen. That is a complete misunderstanding of the role of a legislature and it is quite bizarre that he should suggest that, given how scant was the treatment at the hearings of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children of many issues.

This issue was not dealt with at all. To suggest, as he and Senator Bacik are doing, that we should have regard to the Irish context and not look to the international scene is a denial of every good practice, particularly in a situation like this where we are changing the culture so dramatically. We are introducing an abortion regime, the extent of which may be disputed but there can be no disagreement about the fact that something completely new is going to happen here, namely, that doctors are expected to intervene in healthy pregnancies and in some cases destroy the lives of unborn children, and in other cases expose them to the risk of severe injury or disability.