Róisín Garvey (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will keep it short. In May 2018, the Irish people voted by 66.4% to remove the eighth amendment, choosing to replace it with the following text as part of the 36th amendment, “Provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy.” It does not state this should include harassment, shouting and insults as one accesses this free legal service. We are here today because the treatment of people outside certain places is absolutely disgusting. It is hard enough for a woman to make the choice to get an abortion in the first place. Not one single woman thinks, “Great. I am delighted with this.” They all feel bad about going for an abortion. This is last thing they need. It is none of these people’s goddamn business and they should keep their rosaries off our ovaries and leave us be. Unfortunately, because they are not doing that, we need this Bill to at least get them to back off 100 m. That is what this Bill is doing. It would be 1 km if I were in charge, or they should be arrested because it is none of their goddamn business. However, we have freedom of speech. You can roar all you want but you can do it from 100 m away.

I urge this Bill to be brought forward. We have had great support from Together for Safety and the National Women’s Council. It should have happened the day we got abortion rights brought into this country but, unfortunately, it took us this long due to many obstacles created by people who will never have to go for an abortion themselves.

I thank the Minister for bringing this forward. It is another step in the right direction. We have had much good progress, such as expansion of free contraceptive schemes – to other people’s horror as well – and elimination of VAT on period products and HRT. This is a great day and I thank the Minister. Just back off 100 m and let women make their choice, as was voted by the people.