Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) (No. 2) Bill 2013 was introduced by Deputy Mick Wallace in the Dáil last week and I support it. Most Senators realise we need to "Repeal the Eighth" to make a substantial change in this regard.However, we cannot cherry-pick the Constitution. We cannot say, "I like this bit of the Constitution and I don't like that." We are either democrats or we are not democrats. We need to respect the people of the State and their decision as they make it in a referendum. We can work for change and bring it back, and articulate and argue a case for change within the Constitution.

I am deeply worried when I hear officeholders using terms such as, "I do not know whether the Bill is anti-constitutional and I do not care." Article 28 of the Constitution relates to collective Cabinet responsibility. I am concerned that members of the Cabinet now seem to cherry-pick regarding the advice they take from the Attorney General and whether it is okay to take the advice from the Attorney General on whether to pay one's water charges bill or whether one acts as part of the collective in Cabinet. I greatly respect the decision of the Minister, Deputy Zappone, to accept the Attorney General's advice on the Bill to be voted on this week.