Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will conclude soon. I have outlined an alternative mechanism that could be used. It would at least not force individuals who conscientiously object to abortion to pay for the service. More than 1 million people agree that this is a serious issue.

The abortion service is being packaged here as healthcare but I have yet to see where the practice of healthcare can be packaged by killing an unborn baby. That is what this health service amounts to in reality and it is being funded by the taxpayer.

An allocation of €12 million will be provided for abortion services next year, although given the way the Estimates work, additional funding could be provided. Let us take the first trimester figures from the United States and those published by the Department here. I am being generous with the figure. I know the Department has quoted a lower figure than this, but let us say the cost is €500 per abortion procedure and the allocation for the service next year is €5 million. That gives a figure of 10,000 abortions. That is why there is no regulatory impact analysis with this. The Minister does not know the number of abortions, or maybe he does and does not want to tell the public. Will there be 5,000 or 20,000 abortions? How many will there be?