Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are those, such as Deputy Clare Daly and perhaps Senator Norris and others, who say that it is hypocritical to adopt the position forcefully that we can somehow wash our hands of complicity just because we are not literally taking part in the action with which we profoundly disagree. Amárach Research has confirmed that people are not comfortable with this action. If we take the 44% figure from Amárach Research on the people that voted "yes" together with the people who voted "no", that is more than one million people who are not happy with taxpayers funding abortions. Interestingly, in other countries where abortion is funded, this is also an issue which has been raised and vigorously contested by both sides of the argument.

In his budget analysis and Department's press release following the budget the Minister announced funding in the region of €12 million for abortion services from January. The figure is irrelevant, but if €12 million is to be made available next year, I note that no regulatory impact analysis outlining where or how the money would be spent was published with the Bill.