Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I note that the Minister is uncomfortable with some of the ground that is being covered here but he and his predecessor, Deputy Harris, bear huge responsibility for the injustice that is now ongoing. It does a disservice to both mothers and their unborn children in this country, because of the vacuousness of their political approach and the completely unprincipled attitudes they now have to the protection of human life.

My point is relevant to the amendment because we are speaking here about whether there is to be space for dissent in Irish society on the issue of abortion. I think the answer to that from this Minister is “No”. He will pretend that people can somehow gather wherever they like. Yet, if you look at what is happening here, this Government is in the pockets of special interest groups who do not want to hear any suggestion that abortion is not healthcare, that abortion is not ethical or that abortion is not professionally good. For that reason, their attitude to abortion advocates is that when they say “Jump”, this Government asks, “How high?” This is even to the extent of bringing in legislation that the Garda Commissioner has effectively said is not necessary, because we have laws to deal with any problems that could arise. No medical institution of which I am aware has reported any problems that call for a legislative response. What does that tell you? It tells you that the Minister and the Government are in somebody's pocket. I do not mean this financially-----