Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Today is International Women's Day and I wish to highlight the fact that there is a very important march this evening in Dublin, kicking off at the Garden of Remembrance at 5.30 p.m. It is a "votes for repeal" march and I appeal to all of those who support the cause of repeal to come out this evening and unify. It is not a party-political march, it is a march for everyone who is concerned about the health of women and supports the call for repeal. I regret that I cannot be there due to a family commitment but I think it is a very important event and it would be great to see an important turnout there.

I have friends and colleagues who do not share my views and I think it is extremely important that we respect each other in terms of the referendum vote, and that we respect the different sides of the debate. However, as public representatives we do have a duty to say where we stand on repeal. I find it very disappointing that there are colleagues in this Chamber who are ducking and diving and refusing to say where they stand. I do not think that is good enough for public representatives, regardless of what side of the debate one is on. I accept it is a difficult issue but some things are more important than mere electoral gain and on some issues we need to say where we stand and stand by our principles and respect each other's principles. The people in this Chamber who disappoint me are not those on the other side of the debate but the people who continue to hide. I think we can do better.