Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after “That” and substitute the following: “the Bill be read a second time this day 12 months to allow for further consideration of the Bill and to allow the National Screening Advisory Committee to continue with its work and report on progress.”

I thank Senator Norris for bringing the Bill before the House and for all the very hard work he has done over a long number of years. As his colleague, Senator Boyhan, pointed out, this work started a long time ago and he has seen it through. It is great that his Bill is before the House today. It is very significant that he pointed out that 50 lives could be saved per year as a result of the measures contained in the Bill.

It is vitally important that the screening service is expanded. I have had two children in recent years and they were very fortunate to have availed of the screening service. Thankfully, there were no adverse findings in their screenings, but I know friends of mine and family members who have had issues picked up in the screening service. It is very important that the number of disorders is expanded, particularly when one considers that cystic fibrosis was only added to the screening service a short number of years ago.That is incredible, given the high incidence of cystic fibrosis in Ireland. My amendment will allow time for the Minister to examine this measure.

I have had discussions with the Minister and he is very keen to see this expanded. The Senator made points on the report being laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and a gender balance, and these are very important. I have heard the story of Les Martin and his family, which is absolutely heart-wrenching. We need this done properly for all the children of Ireland and it is very important for the Minister to work on this with the national screening advisory committee, NSAC, to speed up its work. It is not satisfactory that it has only met on a number of occasions since its formation.

At this point I ask the Senator to refrain from drawing parallels between termination care or reproductive rights for women and what is contained in this Bill. Terminations are essential healthcare for women and it is not helpful to ever draw parallels or pitch one group against the other, perhaps even demonising women, in making those comparisons.