Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Some 81% of those polled said abortion should be allowed in cases of rape or abuse while 78% were in favour of it in cases where a woman's life is at risk.

I humbly refer to the challenge posed to Senator John F. Kennedy when he campaigned in 1960 to become the first Catholic US President. At a critical point in his campaign on 12 September 1960, he addressed the doubts of many Protestants as to whether his Catholic faith would allow him to make important national decisions as president, independent of the Catholic Church. His response was unequivocal. He said he believed in an America where the separation of church and state was absolute and he would uphold the US constitution. I commend President Kennedy's stance to all my colleagues,

I thank the Government for having the courage to bring this Bill forward and I am confident that I represent the position of the majority of Irish people.