Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to propose an amendment to the Order of Business. I propose that No. 1 not be taken without debate and that a 45 minute debate be allowed, with the associated changes being made to the Order of Business. I am a member of the education committee, all members of which had something to say on this important issue. The future of our technological universities and their establishment is an important issue and merits Senators having an opportunity to comment on the matter.

I had intended to raise the issue of the welfare of pre-born children. I am glad the Minister for Health has finally established an inquiry into the use and licensing of the drug valproate, otherwise known as Epilim, which has for decades been licensed and used in the treatment of epilepsy and manage seizures but it has been known for some time that it can cause birth defects and developmental difficulties in a child if taken by the mother during pregnancy. No warnings were given to women about this until recent years and so there is a very low awareness of how much of a problem it is. I was going to ask that the Minister address the issue in this House in due course, so I welcome that development.

The second issue is a specific and tragic issue which requires that the Minister for Health come to the House for a debate. Two years ago almost to the day we debated abortion legislation in this House and several Senators raised the possibility that Irish babies would be born alive as a result of failed abortions, particularly in late-term abortions. This happens regularly in the UK and elsewhere. The former Minister described this as scaremongering. A report published recently by three medical professionals in UCC studied the work of ten doctors who have performed late-term abortions under the 2018 Act. I urge Senators to read it. It is deeply disturbing and chilling to read. It highlights three main issues. First, it is clear from the study that babies have been born alive, having survived the abortion procedure, and have been left to die, with doctors interviewed saying they were "begging people to help deal with the situation", referring to calls for help made to colleagues. The doctors surveyed described what they do as brutal, awful and emotionally difficult. Second, it is clear from reading the study that administering pain relief to unborn babies before late-term abortions is not something that features in the considerations of those carrying out the abortions. This, too, must stir our consciences. Third, there is the heart-breaking accounts of the feelings among doctors, with one doctor describing "stab the baby in the heart in order to induce a fatal heart attack before inducing delivery" and saying "I remember getting sick out in the corridors afterwards because I thought it was such an awful procedure and so dreadful". The doctors reported widespread opposition to abortion from other doctors. This was compiled by academics who broadly support relaxing the restrictions, even currently, in place.

In 2018, I and other Senators proposed amendments to the Act which would allow precautionary pain relief for surgical abortions and after care for babies who survive the procedure as a gesture towards the compassion we should feel in these cases. These proposals were rejected. I call for a rethink. Regardless of how people voted in the past, I sincerely hope we can all recognise that there is something dreadfully wrong here.I sincerely hope this is an area we can revisit urgently and that we can unite in finding a way to show mercy and compassion to unborn babies who end up in these appalling, horrific and heartbreaking situations. Let us disregard how people voted in the past and let us not be bound by that. This is a call to our consciences. I ask that the Minister would come to the House on this issue and this issue only. It cannot just be dealt with on the fly as if it was some normal everyday issue. I plead with the House on this, that at least we can unite about some aspects of this debate. We should all be extremely disturbed by what this report has brought to our attention.