Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 12:

In page 10, to delete lines 4 to 39.

This goes to the core of the Bill. The Minister of State pointed out that we are against the substantive issue of section 9, and that is true. We have made no secret of that. However, that does not mean that issues such as foetal pain and trying to confine the procedures that are allowed for abortion should not been have favourably considered, as they would not have changed the substantive issue. Anyway, so be it; that has not been done.

With regard to my objection to section 9, I am objecting fundamentally to suicide as a ground because there is no medical evidence in this regard. Even with regard to the last discussion, in which I think the Minister of State missed the point that was being made, where the phrase "it shall be lawful" was used in the context of when unborn human life has ended, what happens if the baby survives? It is silent as to whether that procedure is lawful or not. We do know that this will happen, particularly in that period post-viability in which babies can be seriously disabled.

There is a point I want to develop on this. There are a number of points, and this probably will be my last time to get in because I imagine there will be quite a bit of discussion of this group of amendments and this section. I will quote from something I came across which articulates, maybe better than I can, my point of view in its regard and to which I referred at Second Stage, which was to do with the principle of the inviolability of human life. It reads:

If we abandon the principle which teaches that innocent human life is inviolable, which is to say, that is it is sacred and must be protected by law, if we relinquish that principle, and begin to allow for the deliberate and direct destruction of human life, what basis will we have to object when the situation shifts further and other categories of vulnerable human beings are under threat? We will have none or very little, because we will have sacrificed the foundation, the basis, the principle: every human life is to be respected, because it is of inestimable value. This recognition is at the origin of every human society and community. It is not per se a religious truth; it is a human truth.

I would go further and say that this is an objective truth. It is not merely any ordinary truth; it is an objective truth. Because it is an objective truth, it is accessible. It is accessible by every Member of this House. Through our knowledge, through the research that we have done on the issue, through our intelligence and through our reason and conscience, we can arrive at what the truth is. I would argue that, on every issue, every decision and every Bill that comes before this House, there is a duty on us to seek out the truth. It is not always as easily accessible as it is, in my opinion, in this context.

I quote Pastor Martin Niemöller, who spoke about the atrocities committed during the last century. He wrote:

First, they came for the socialists,
and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.

Interestingly, something of which I was unaware, which I came across only within the past number of days, is that after the war the war crimes tribunal indicted ten Nazi leaders for encouraging and compelling abortions, which at that time was classed as a crime against humanity. I would argue that it is as big a crime against humanity today as it was at that time.

I am well aware, under this heading, that suicide is a major issue for society generally.

I covered that on Second Stage. If there were any medical evidence suggesting a woman who is suicidal could be relieved by giving her an abortion, we would be challenged in making our argument. There is no such evidence. This was clearly enunciated at all the health committee hearings. Unfortunately, we continue with our approach. I said yesterday in the presence of Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, that the abortion industry is evil. It is a multi-million dollar industry and absolutely corrupts the thinking of people, including medical professionals.

I did some research on abortions since the practice was legalised in the 1960s.