Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is a very compassionate amendment which Senators Healy Eames and Mary Ann O'Brien have tabled. If we cannot have compassion for the unborn, for those who cannot speak for themselves even though they are being cruelly deprived of life as a result of this legislation, at least let it be compassionate. I am not sure why there is this apparent reluctance to entertain this amendment. Irrespective of where the medical evidence comes from, whether from the moon, America, Russia or Ireland it does not matter, because we are all human beings and we should all be concerned with the well-being and welfare of our fellow human beings. That is exactly the reason for this amendment.

We have heard Senators Colm Burke and Bacik on foetal pain and we do not question in any way Irish obstetricians or medical practices about this but where is the report by the Department of Health which confirms that foetal pain does not exist after 20 weeks? That report should accompany this Bill if this amendment is being rejected. We can only learn from other jurisdictions because this is the first time in the history of our State that abortion is being introduced where the rights of the child are being violated in respect of the Constitution under section 9 of this Bill.