Dick Spring
Question:12 Mr. Spring asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting with women Members of the Oireachtas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meeting with Women Oireachtas Members.
At my invitation, the women Members of the Oireachtas met me on Tuesday last, 25 February 1992, to discuss the concern which had been expressed by all Members of the Oireachtas — but particularly its women Members — arising from the recent High Court judgment in the case of the 14 year old victim of an alleged rape.
The meeting provided me with an important opportunity to hear the views of all the women Members of the Oireachtas who attended the meeting and to have a full and frank exchange of views on the options to deal with this problem which had been raised arising from my consultations with the other party leaders on this subject.
The Deputy will appreciate that my discussions with the Oireachtas women Members took place in advance of the Supreme Court ruling on the parents' appeal in this case. I have made clear my view that further consideration of this distressing case must await the Supreme Court making available the reasons for their decision on the parents' appeal. I welcome the Supreme Court's decision to lift the injunction on travelling. We still await the reasons for the Supreme Court decision.
The Oireachtas women Members asked me to have a further meeting with them when the Supreme Court decision and the reason for this were available. I responded that I was anxious to preserve the cross-party support which has been so evident and so welcome in our dealing with this matter. I made it clear that I would be having discussions with party leaders on the outcome of the Supreme Court appeal. I propose to do this as soon as practicable after the detailed judgement from the Supreme Court becomes available.
I commend the Taoiseach for having the meeting with the women Members of the Oireachtas. Can I take it from his response that it would be his intention to meet with them again once the judgment is available?
As I have already said in my reply, in the first instance I intend to meet party leaders again when it is practicable to have a discussion on it. If it is thought desirable after that we will decide on the matter then.
Will the Taoiseach meet with the women Members of the Labour Party?
I wish to express my gratitude to the Taoiseach for meeting with all the women Members in the House; it was certainly a very useful meeting. Most of the women who contributed at the meeting expressed their concern about the present situation with regard to the lack of information and access to information on abortion and other issues regarding women's health and the lack of non-directive counselling. Whatever the outcome of the Supreme Court judgment these matters will have to be resolved. Would the Taoiseach consider asking the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Women's Rights to examine the extent of the problems created by these difficulties and perhaps make a recommendation or give him a brief?
We discussed a wide range of matters at the meeting with the women Members of the Oireachtas. The Deputy will recall that I have asked the Minister of State at my Department, with responsibility for women's affairs, Deputy Tom Kitt, to investigate and report to me on the various matters raised in relation to books in libraries, advice, counselling and so on. I will await his report before I say any more on the subject.
May I ask the Taoiseach when he expects the Supreme Court judgment to be available? At the meeting which he suggested he will have with other party leaders after the Supreme Court judgment, will the Government make any proposals on their own account or will they be waiting for the Opposition to suggest what should be done?
The Deputy can be assured we will have the meeting as soon as practicable after the Supreme Court judgment is available. I do not know on what specific date the judgment will be available; it could be at the end of this week and it may well be at the beginning of next week. The question of whether proposals will be made surely must await the receipt of the judgment and the reasons for it. It is much too early to speculate on whether proposals may or may not be necessary.
Question No. 13, please.