Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am a little bit flabbergasted. I do not think anybody has read the amendment. It does prevent people protesting within the confines of the hospital or GP setting. This is about within 100 m of that zone. This is about the coffee shop that might be within that 100 m. It is about facilities outside of the hospital or GP setting. Under this Bill, anybody who brings up a conversation in regard to birth control or abortion outside the hospital setting but within that 100 m zone can be prosecuted. This is what it means.

Senators have misrepresented me. They have misrepresented what this amendment seeks to do. That is exactly what they have done. They are supporting the criminalisation of people outside the coffee shop that is 50 m down the road from the hospital or 50 m down the road from the GP setting. That is what this Bill will do. If this amendment is not accepted, we may as well kiss goodbye to free speech and free assembly in this country. I am very disappointed. Senators have been very disingenuous with regard to what is proposed in this amendment. They have totally misrepresented it.