Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Words have ordinary meanings. The Minister brought out the contradiction in the joint committee's aims when he rightly mentioned that it wanted to see abortion legalised without reason up to 12 weeks and also wanted to see a specific exclusion to be provided for in the case of abortion on the grounds of disability. Those two aims are incompatible where information arises that causes disability, sex or gender to be the reason for the abortion being sought. The Minister has an opportunity to adjudicate between those two situations. I understand very much what Senator Norris has been saying here. I went over it to try to establish clearly in my mind what he meant when he said that the Bill does not contemplate abortion on the grounds of disability. I am not going to put words in the Senator's mouth.