Vol. 435 No. 9
13 Ms. O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delays in his Department in introducing legislation to allow for abortion information in the State in line with the endorsement for such legislation in the November 1992 Referendum on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Work is progressing on the drafting of legislation to regulate the availability of information on abortion services available outside the State, and I will be bringing proposals to Government in the near future. I make no apology for proceeding carefully with the preparation of this legislation, which will have to deal sensitively with complex issues, particularly in relation to the one-to-one relationship between a woman with a crisis pregnancy and the doctor or counsellor who seeks to advise her.
Spoken like a true Fianna Fáiler. As Ireland has recently been rapped on the knuckles by the International Human Rights Commission on this issue, that the Supreme Court ruled during the summer that the rights of Irish women in this matter must be suspended until legislation is put in place by the Government, that those rights suspended are rights denied to Irish women and that a recent opinion poll showed that 71 per cent of the population favoured the introduction of legislation allowing information on abortion, how can a Labour Minister justify, with his hand on his heart, this lethargy and further delays? He used words such as "the near future"— approximately one year after the electorate voted on the matter. The response by the Minister today in regard to this matter is not sufficient. Is he saying that he has not yet brought proposals in this regard to Cabinet? That is a straightforward question.
I doubt if the suggestion I have been lethargic will stick. I think very few Ministers of ten months' standing have processed as much legislation and taken as much action as I have during the past ten months. This is a very important issue which deserves careful consideration. There are very strong feelings within this House and throughout the country on this issue, and I intend to listen to the views of all sides. I will be in a position to bring legislation to Government during this session.
Deputy O'Donnell rose.
A brief question, Deputy, please.
During the last term the Minister said he would bring forward proposals in this area in the autumn. The point I am making is that there is no sign of further progress in this area one year after the electorate voted on this issue. The fact that the Minister has not brought forward proposals to Cabinet indicates that he is delaying the legislation. What is new? I would have expected more from a Labour Minister who was unequivocal on this point before and since the election. He is allowing this legislation to be put on the long finger by his Cabinet colleagues who are opposed to it. This is a shame; it is a double-cross, so to speak, on women who voted for the Labour Party.
That should be adequate, Deputy.
I totally refute the Deputy's suggestion. In dealing with issues of controversy I have certainly never shirked my responsibilities. My record can be seen. I intend dealing with this issue during, I hope, this session.
