Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I was not intending to speak, but I felt it was important to put my support for this legislation on the record. It is welcome and I hope it can be progressed, as Senator Gavan has said, before Lent and before those protests ramp up once again. I commend my colleague Senator Gavan, Karen Sugrue and all of the Together for Safety group on their efforts in progressing safe access zones. As others have said, no woman should have to run the gauntlet of white coffins, crucifixes and protesters while they are trying to access healthcare. Likewise, no healthcare worker should feel intimidated for just going to work and doing their job carrying out medical procedures that are lawful in this State.

However, I take great offence to the charge made by some that dissent is somehow being silenced by this Bill, or that there is a general narrative out there that you cannot express dissent if you are anti-choice. It reminds me of those who scream the loudest about cancel culture, but are doing it from their columns in Sunday newspapers. They are doing it from their radio platforms and their TV shows. They are so-called cancelled columnists. Those who were saying that dissent is being shut down today, ironically, are elected, and that is perfectly fine in a democracy. They are elected on a platform that sets out they are anti-choice. They have been elected on that platform, and they are in here and have a platform to raise their concerns. They are not being silenced in any way, shape or form. The truth they cannot accept is that they are now in the minority. Those of us who for years fought to change positions in parties, or through referendums, know what it feels like to be in the minority. That is the reality. They are now in the minority and this Bill reflects that Ireland, and two thirds of Irish society supports women's right to choose, support women's bodily autonomy, and supports them being able to access the healthcare they deserve. It does balance that right to protest and assemble with those rights of women. It is important to say we know what these so-called protests are about. They are about the chilling factor. That is absolutely what they are about. I hope that once we get this legislation passed, more healthcare providers will feel comfortable to offer the services. It is completely wrong that there are women across this country, in particular in rural Ireland, who are being denied access to the healthcare they deserve because of the chilling factor of these protests.

As I have said, it is very welcome legislation. It is another reason the Seanad should be back as soon as possible doing its work, because we need to progress this legislation as soon as possible. It is long overdue and it is necessary. Until we do it there will be women today, tomorrow and next week running that gauntlet, trying to pass those white coffins while trying to access their basic human rights.