I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate. In my opinion, there is one simple choice. Do we trust women? This is a very personal decision, it is a healthcare decision and women must be placed at the centre of it. An abortion is not something any woman or any couple enters into lightly, and by the time that decision has been reached, there has already been reflection, and there has already been discussion, fear, emotion and heartbreak. This is why the mandatory three-day waiting period is wrong. For many women in my constituency, this was a huge issue that they spoke to me about on the doorsteps. The reflection has already happened, so this requirement can feel infantalising. It can feel like a judgment on them for coming to a decision about their body. For many women, those three days occur during an incredibly painful time. Also, there are the people who are financially unable to leave the country. We are just punishing them. The reflection period can push women further along medical timelines and reduce the options available for procedures of care. I welcome the Bill's decriminalisation of healthcare workers who are helping these women. We must remember that every one of these circumstances is different. Some of them might be facing huge stress or in abusive relationships where they are forced into an act that they do not want to do. Do we trust women or not? The only person who can fully understand the woman is the woman herself. We should welcome this Bill and the opportunity it presents to bring in enactments and change, as we said during the referendum. Dublin Bay North, which is my constituency, had over 500 campaigners and the largest turnout and delivery of "Yes" votes in the country. We won by a three-to-one result in favour of repeal. To all the campaigners, I say, "Go raibh maith agaibh."

Sentiment score: 0.09