Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This amendment removes prayer and counselling from the list of prohibited actions the Bill prescribes as advising, persuading or informing behaviour. This is to enable the continuation of peaceful, non-confrontational prayer vigils in the vicinity of hospitals, which harm no one and are an important part of free expression for some people in this country. The Bill intends to prevent harassment, but it actually bans peaceful and respectful citizens from praying silently for pre-born children. The architects of the Bill know that and, I am sorry to say, seem to desire this to be the case given the explicit inclusion of "prayer" as a prohibited action. This is clearly an unconstitutional overreach of the Bill and should be rectified.