Tacaím leis an mBille agus tréaslaím leis an Teachta Cullinane as é seo a thabhairt chun cinn. Is Bille tábhachtach é agus tá sé riachtanach. Tá sé ciallmhar. This is an important legislative change. At the end of the day, and as far as I can see it, we are talking about a three-day wait for women to be able to access essential healthcare. Fundamentally, that is what this is about. It was never necessary in the context of the repeal of the eighth amendment and it is one of the strongest recommendations of the O'Shea report. The testimony brought forward by many women is that the three-day wait has created immense difficulties, particularly for women who are coming from a background where they are experiencing coercive control or domestic violence, where attending even one appointment is an enormous challenge, much less trying to return again within that period. Ultimately, it has a significant impact on their ability to make the right decisions for them. People have talked about consideration. This does not abolish consideration; this abolishes a mandatory requirement and constraint on women who are very clear on what is necessary for them and what is necessary for their needs and healthcare. It does not abolish consideration, and it does not mean people cannot make their own decisions and give their own thoughts on that. I would also make the point that in the review of the legislation, the O'Shea report asked the Oireachtas to consider other matters, including fatal foetal abnormalities. It asked that an expert panel be established to examine those issues and advise the Oireachtas accordingly. That is important and should proceed. People have talked about the human cost. There is a profound human cost for parents and for women who have no choice but to travel because of the situation they are in. The Oireachtas needs to address that and an expert panel needs to be established in that regard. The three-day wait period is unnecessary, it is wrong and it is causing profound hardship, particularly for vulnerable women in difficult situations. I welcome this Bill and the fact many Members of Government intend to support it.

Sentiment score: 0.02