Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I hear what the Minister is saying but we are so far not convinced. He said that there is no specified definition for "serious", which is true, but the advice from everyone we heard at the Oireachtas committee was clear. Our view is simple: the Bill should be amended to better support medical practitioners' clinical judgment.

I have sympathy for what Senator Ruane said. It is bizarre that having waited for 35 years, women will be asked to wait another three years before the system is absolutely as it should be. This is an opportunity to do the right thing. While I will withdraw the amendment on behalf of my party, Sinn Féin, we will take some convincing not to table it again on Report Stage. The inclusion of the word "serious" instinctively feels like the wrong thing to do, and surely we should all agree on what is the right thing to do based on evidence, of which we have had a great deal in this regard.