Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have distinguished visitors in the Gallery and I welcome them. We must look at what are the costs associated with why the premiums are so high, whether it is the compensation system and what are the other factors around the cost of insurance being so high, and that is what the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, is committed to and what Government has started. Reductions of 14% and 20% are a good start. I accept we have, to borrow Fianna Fáil's famous phrase, "a lot more to do".

Senators Craughwell, Bacik, Gavan, Norris, Devine and Coghlan all made reference to the eighth amendment and the vote that will take place on Friday. I will not - the Cathaoirleach will be glad - engage in a party political reply. It is in the hands of the people to make a decision on Friday.

Like many Members of the House, I was privileged to be a member of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. I chaired the Joint Committee on Health and Children which dealt with the protection of life during pregnancy legislation. I respect that within this Chamber there are differing viewpoints, as there are in Irish society.

This referendum is an important one. Senator Gavan is 100% correct. The only way we can change the present system is by voting "Yes" on Friday. If we vote "No" on Friday, the status quoremains. It is completely disingenuous of one side of the argument to say that we can change and deal with the so-called "hard cases". The hard cases are about the lives of those who have been affected - women, their husbands or partners-----