Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I will have the opportunity to consider what the Minister of State and Senators McDowell, Norris and others have said. I am loath to disagree with somebody of Senator McDowell's eminence, but I think the issues are different here. The provision of abortion without cause shown is one thing. The requirement for notification does not interfere with the provision of abortion. However, particular circumstances arise where the girl is a minor. The compulsion here is not on the girl but on the certifying doctor. All sorts of applications are made to the courts on a daily basis concerning child welfare. It would be wrong to present that as a kind of spectre of an onerous burden on the girl involved.

I say to my friend, Senator Norris, that it is not a lack of sympathy that underlies this amendment, but disagreement about what is the appropriate way to show sympathy and compassion in this situation. I agree with my colleagues when they say the girl is a victim. If she is the victim of a crime for which one of her parents or guardians is responsible, that situation is appropriately dealt with in this amendment by the possibility of an application to the court not to notify the parents. With the best will in the world-----