Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I extend Christmas wishes to the Cathaoirleach, Leas-Chathaoirleach, leaders of parties, all Members, our Clerk and Deputy Clerk and the excellent stenographers and sound staff who keep the records so diligently and are so efficient in the work they do to compile the record of the proceedings of the House, which is invaluable. I also extend best wishes to the camera operators who provide the excellent television service extended over the year which has brought the House to the attention of so many people. I get a response now when I speak in the House on foot of what appears on television and radio.

Next Tuesday, 23 December 2014, the President of the High Court, Mr. Justice Nicholas Kearns, will make a monumental decision based on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of 7 October 1983. As the sole Member of the House who was a Member of the Dáil in 1983 and who stood by the amendment of the Constitution, which is a very enlightened one, I certainly do not pull back from the decision to include Article 40.3.3° whereby the State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right. I will not get into the details, which are tragic and very difficult for the families involved and I will certainly not add to them. However, I note regarding the utterances of Deputy Leo Varadkar on 16 December that it is not his right to interpret the Constitution.