Seanad debates

Tuesday, 11 December 2018

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed)

 

10:30 am

Photo of David NorrisDavid Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is by far the nastiest amendment of the lot. I am absolutely horrified by it. I express my disgust that it has been tabled and do not give a damn if it reflects the law in England. This is an independent country and we should not slavishly follow what happens in England. Plenty of mistakes have been made there and this is certainly one of them. What on earth has a woman's marital status got to do with the price of eggs? It is rubbish. The provision on ethnicity is also rubbish. I have no idea what gravidity is. The amendment continues, "including the numbers of any previous pregnancies resulting in live births, stillbirths ... spontaneous miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies". It is so horribly intrusive and utterly disgusting. I do not know what a singleton is. It sounds like an American coinage. The word "foeticide" is also used. Why not use the word "abortion" as that is what it is? This is emotive language. That is all I will say. I am appalled that such an amendment has been put before the House. It is just dreadful and I ask my friend and colleague Senator Mullen - if he is still a friend after what I have said - to withdraw it.

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