Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I place on record my appreciation to the Leader for allocating cross-party time next Thursday for the Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021. It is another example of how this House can work constructively and positively on important issues. I know it is a Thursday afternoon but I appeal to Members, again on a cross-party basis, to ensure we have an important Committee Stage on that Bill. There are going to be amendments proposed by us in response to the Minister's concerns because we want to make this Bill as effective as possible. We would, therefore, appreciate the support of Senators.

There is an added urgency to this matter. There have been ongoing protests outside University Maternity Hospital Limerick for some time. However, Together for Safety has informed me in the past couple of weeks that the protests are now coinciding with the exact times of the appointments that women, including some who are pregnant, have for their own private medical business and often for business that relates to terminations. That is disturbing and clearly it shows that information from within the hospital is being shared with these protesters. I cannot say that is happening in every hospital but the protests are happening all across the county in State-owned hospitals. I am firmly of the view, as is my party, that the protesters have no business there. This is the business of the woman attending a hospital and her business alone. Granted, the right to protest is important but protesting directly outside a maternity hospital is just appalling. It is within all our powers now to do something about it.

When the Minster for Health was in the Chamber on Second Stage he asked whether we would co-operate on his Bill and I put on record that we would because we all want to see this done. There is no Bill at this point in time apart from the Together for Safety Bill. I hope the Acting Leader will acknowledge we have approached this on a cross-party basis. I am not claiming to own the Bill. I acknowledge that the Acting Leader, the leader of the Fianna Fáil group today and Members on a cross-party basis joined us behind the Together for Safety banner months ago. I appeal to them to keep that co-operation going next week because we must make progress. There is an added urgency to this when women are being targeted at the time of their appointments. I find that to be the most appalling behaviour but that is what is happening in Limerick, the city where I live. I ask that we co-operate in the best spirit of this Chamber next week. We have Committee Stage of the Bill. Let us deal with the Bill professionally but let us support it and get it through to the next Stage so that we can make an advance in protecting the right of people to attend hospitals without interference, intimidation and without subtle coercion.