Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not think I have referred to Mr. Thompson previously so this is new and relevant information that relates to this amendment. When pressed at the committee, this neonatalogist said the procedure was that there would be one injection to stop the baby moving or, as he said, to "paralyse" the baby. He said the second injection in the foeticide was an injection to the heart, part of the reason for which is to prevent the infant from being born alive. The Minister is not engaging at all with what actually happens, but it is relevant and the western world experience is that this does not always occur We have the Gosnells of this world, practitioners who through negligence or cruelty can do all sorts of things and it is for law to protect human dignity, even in the minimal respect for human dignity shown by abortion. I am asking the Minister for some mercy on this and I hoped he would at least have given the issue some thought or engaged with me on the facts of what happens in these dreadful situations.