I am proud today to support my party leader, Deputy Holly Cairns, in this Bill to implement much-needed changes to legislation governing terminations of pregnancies. There is a worthwhile history lesson we should remember in this debate. The people of this Republic made their decision on access to abortion care in 2018 by an overwhelming majority in the affirmative. Many opposed to this Bill will say that the electorate in that referendum made its decision on the basis of the terms set out in the Bill passed into law in 2018. If that is the position, what must also be acknowledged is that in keeping with the spirit of the referendum, this House agreed to reviewing the operation of the Act in a debate in late 2018. Section 7 of the 2018 Act legalising abortion in Ireland provided for review and, by implication, for future adjustments to the law. That section was introduced after the referendum, on Committee Stage via amendment on 6 November 2018 by the then Minister for Health, and current Fine Gael leader, Deputy Simon Harris. The amendment was agreed without objection and without a vote on both Committee and Report Stages. It stands to reason that all Members of the House, of all parties, agreed that a review of the legislation should be carried out, adjustments to the law made on foot of such a review and that this would be in keeping with the will of the people expressed through referendum. At the instruction of the Department of Health and under section 7 of the Act, Marie O'Shea issued her review of the Act three years ago in 2023. The Bill being introduced by my party leader today gives effect to the recommendations of that review. Upon introducing the concept of the review in November 2018, after the referendum had been passed, Deputy Simon Harris said: It seems to me it would be wholly irresponsible for us as legislators to pass legislation on such an important issue to do with women's health and not keep it under review on the basis that our job is done. It is good practice to keep legislation under review. He further said that it is important we check the Act, which is about access and women's healthcare and make sure it is working for women and the medical profession. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael representatives in the debate agreed with the Minister. Even Deputy Tóibín, who was present at the time, did not object to the review amendment and did not call a vote on it. He agreed with it. There is no conceivable argument therefore that this legislation before us, based on the output of that review, is not in keeping with the will of the people or the Dáil in 2018. In fact, it is the full interpretation of the will of the people and the Dáil in 2018. Any contention to the contrary is nonsensical and revisionist. As such, it is incumbent upon us to implement these provisions as recommended by the Dáil-sanctioned and Government-commissioned review and to do so as a matter of urgency to bring this forward to Committee Stage. Anything less would be a gross dereliction of duty to the constitutional role with which we have all been charged.

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