Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is a very irresponsible comment to make, because the reality is that abortion is associated with disability throughout the world. There is a vulnerability that this Bill is not currently addressing. The Minister made a particular promise to the electorate that he has not kept, namely, the specific exclusion of abortion on the grounds of disability. The Minister promised to be specific. The best claim he can make is that he does not intend for his vague, open provision for abortion to be used in response to a diagnosis of disability. The Minister may not intend it but he has absolutely no control over how laws will be interpreted or applied in a particular context. I suggest to him that it is at best extremely irresponsible not to follow through on the commitment he gave to explicitly and specifically exclude abortion on the grounds of disability.