Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My amendment is to delete section 9.

On the issue of suicide, many women in other countries have been advised to go down the suicidality route because it fast-tracks the abortion. It is the only mechanism in the Bill to facilitate abortion and, therefore, I believe it will be widely used. Therefore, I am seeking the deletion of the section.

There are various risks attached to abortions for women, and that is my concern. Risks are fewer when abortions are carried out in the early weeks, which I accept, but there is a greater chance of serious complications further into a pregnancy and a greater risk of dying. There was a report on this in one of yesterday's newspapers. While people might try to use that case, which was sad and unfortunate for both the lady and her family, it must be noted it is not that uncommon. One death from abortion occurs in every 530,000 cases where the period of gestation is eight weeks or fewer. This increases to one death per 17,000 for pregnancies between 16 and 20 weeks, and one death per 6,000 at 21 weeks and more.