John Gilroy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

It relates to the reason section 9 should stand. Despite the fact that Senator Jim Walsh called me an abortionist, he and I agree on this. Despite his mighty rhetoric of being more pure than me, we agree that abortion is sometimes necessary. All we disagree on are the circumstances in which it is necessary.

I will quote from a paper delivered at the public hearings on behalf of Professor Patricia Casey. I spoke to several people on the pro-life side and they agree with me. We are providing for a medical procedure known as abortion - let us call it what it is - in the rarest of circumstances in the most challenging of cases, yet the argument been portrayed on the other side of the House is that we are almost legalising compulsory abortion. It is so dishonest and despicable to go this way. The difference between Senator Jim Walsh and me - we both acknowledge the awful necessity of abortion sometimes - relates to the circumstances involved which I am saying include suicide. The Senator does not agree with this, but he disagrees not from a medical but from an ideological perspective. He is forever shouting about pseudo-feminists-----