John Gilroy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

If a foetus cannot feel pain for 23 weeks and Senator Burke has said that it is impossible to administer anaesthesia to a foetus at 16 weeks, why are we talking about an amendment that proposes 16 weeks? It might be reasonable to propose an amendment to administer anaesthesia at 22 weeks but it is preposterous to talk about 16 weeks. It is illogical, even by the Senator's own argument. If we are to be taken seriously as a House, let us have some regard to the facts and to the logic of our own arguments.