Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would also like to talk about the health committee and the Minister for Health commencing phase 1 of the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. I find it slightly ironic that Senator Pauline O'Reilly talked about animal welfare straight after talking about abortion and had no thought for the welfare of the unborn. There are legitimate concerns that the Government's three-year review of the new abortion laws will be a missed opportunity. To date, the Minister for Health has met only with abortion-supporting groups about the process. The public are entitled to better than a pretend public consultation process that has all the appearance of listening to people's concerns but is nothing more than a public relations exercise with a prearranged outcome. The Minister must demonstrate by his actions that he is not listening just to one side of the debate. The three-year review must look at Ireland's spiralling abortion rate as a priority and at other troubling effects of the new law such as the fact that no protocols are in place on how to care for babies who survive late-term abortions. In the first two years of the new law coming into effect in 2019, 13,243 abortions took place. That is a massive 70% increase in the number of abortions in two years. The Government's three-year review is an opportunity to scrutinise what has happened and ask some really hard questions about the new law and the changes that are needed. The recent finding by Amárach Research that 89% of the public support women being offered information about alternatives before proceeding with an abortion is welcome. Another important finding from the recently published Amárach poll is that 77% of the public support an amendment to the abortion law to ensure that babies who survive late-term abortions are given medical and palliative care and not left to die alone. The Government has already acknowledged that it is aware of the UCC study that pointed to the fact that babies have survived the abortion procedure under the new law and have been left to die unaided. One in three people voted for abortion in 2018. The recent Amárach polls show that the overwhelming majority of the public backs proposals to be put forward by the pro-life movement as part of the three-year review. The Government needs to acknowledge this support and invite pro-life representatives into the decision-making process rather than shutting them out, as is currently the case. I hope the chair who will be appointed next year will take pro-life views into consideration.