Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This morning's edition of "Today with Sean O'Rourke" contained one of the most profound and heart wrenching interviews with a young doctor and her husband. She outlined a story which I will not go through because the point I want to make to Senators arises from it.The story related to the loss of her child at 28 weeks. The child was not going to survive outside the womb and she went to England to give birth. What I heard on the radio - if Senators have the opportunity, they should listen back to it - was a discussion about profound sadness and bereavement in respect of the loss of that young life. I ask that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs come before the House. When we discuss the eighth amendment, how the people will, should or might vote and the legislation on the termination of pregnancy, whatever decision the people make, we must speak about the profound loss and bereavement that accompanies such decisions. The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, spoke well about family planning, contraception, counselling and sexual health in the context of legislation. However, very little is being done regarding bereavement counselling, mourning counselling or the outstanding and lifelong grief that family and their children were experiencing as a result of the woman's loss. I recommend that Senators listen to the interview. The woman in question was not judgmental in any way. She was just telling her story.

In my report on dying, death and bereavement in Ireland, I mention how all of us are affected by this - 100% of our lives and 100% of the time. The report contains recommendations as to what should happen with families, mothers, fathers and children when life is lost. Life will, for whatever reasons, be lost under the new legislation. I want to see the development of services relating to bereavement, counselling, mourning and grief for our young people. Those services should be there in parallel to the legislation, whatever shape it takes. I would like the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to come to the House to discuss this matter. I would also like her to take on board my recommendations, which relate - in the context of every sphere of young people's lives, of education, of teaching and of family life - to how we can and should deal with this matter. A loss such as that experienced by the woman to whom I refer will be with her and her children for the rest of their lives. She was completely outside any judgment.