Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This recommendation was also based on important evidence the committee heard of the increasing use of abortion pills purchased illegally over the Internet and taken by pregnant women without medical supervision. We have heard the harrowing stories from doctors who have seen women in emergency departments who have taken these pills without medical supervision. While these pills can be extraordinarily safe where regulated and medically supervised, people cannot be sure of the quality of those they are buying on the Internet. I have heard stories from obstetricians about seeing women with ruptured uteruses as a result of taking these pills unsupervised. This is an extraordinary risk for girls and women. Mothers and fathers must ask themselves if that was their daughter, would they want her to be supported by a doctor and to know the medications she is accessing is safe. The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the people who run our maternity services, deliver our babies and mind our mothers and wives when they give birth, have clear views on the danger and risk to women as a result of abortion pills.

Should the proposed referendum be passed by the people, it would be the Government's intention to permit termination up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. In such cases, a medical practitioner would have to certify that he or she is of the reasonable opinion, formed in good faith, that the pregnancy concerned has not exceeded 12 weeks. A period of 72 hours would have to elapse between certification and the termination being carried out. It is appropriate a brief period of time is allowed for a woman to make a considered decision after discussing all the options with her doctor. Irish women are currently denied the opportunity to discuss all of their options with their doctor. If we believe there is value in that conversation between a woman and her doctor, it is appropriate there is the time to allow all of those issues to be considered.