John Gilroy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I apologise and withdraw the word "quack". This was a man who wrote a professional paper which was not peer-reviewed. It was hardly necessary for it to be peer-reviewed when he cited the Book of Exodus in the references, about which we need to say no more. When people start quoting renowned experts and it turns out that one of them might not be what he claims to be, it undermines the credibility of the argument made by the supporter.

Yesterday evening Senators Jim Walsh, Brian Ó Domhnaill and Rónán Mullen and I agreed that sections 7 and 8 were necessary - horrible, absolutely, but necessary. We said there was a provision in sections 7 and 8 to directly take the life of an otherwise healthy baby and we have agreed to that provision.