Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not going to do a back and forth response like what it would be if I were in a courtroom but I will answer that question. When a pregnant woman goes to her GP in early pregnancy, that pregnant woman often has not obtained any information on the sex or race of her child. What the legislation is endeavouring to do is to trust the woman to make the decisions that are best for her and her family at that early stage of her pregnancy.I do not think there is any evidence to suggest that this legislation is attempting to do anything other than that. The Senator is attempting to put in place further hurdles and measures that would make the pre-12-week part of this legislation inoperable. I respect the fact that the Senator fundamentally, vehemently and sincerely opposes this ground. I fully accept that, but I fully support the ground. I am not going to do anything, or amend the legislation in any way, that would make one of those key grounds inoperable.