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Dáil Éireann Vol. 969 Thursday, No. 9 31 May 2018 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 31/05/2018A00100Referendum of 25 May: Statements (Resumed) � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1104 31/05/2018G00300Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1118 31/05/2018G00400Priority Questions� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1118 31/05/2018G00550Postal Services� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1118 31/05/2018H00100National Mitigation Plan Implementation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1120 31/05/2018J00850Renewable Energy Incentives � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1124 31/05/2018K00050Broadband Service Provision � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1127 31/05/2018K01350Recycling Policy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1129 31/05/2018L00700Other Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1132 31/05/2018L00750Energy Policy� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1132 31/05/2018M00950Electric Vehicles � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1134 31/05/2018O00400Greenhouse Gas Emissions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1138 31/05/2018P00500Offshore Exploration Licences � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1140 31/05/2018P01500Bioenergy Strategy � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1142 31/05/2018Q00400Message from Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1143 31/05/2018Q00600Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1143 31/05/2018T00900Questions on Promised Legislation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1152 31/05/2018AA00100Message from Select Committee� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1159 31/05/2018AA00300Fatal Road Traffic Collision in County Monaghan in 2011: Statements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1159 31/05/2018JJ00100Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2017: From the Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1175 31/05/2018KK00400Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 1182 31/05/2018FFF00200Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �1225 31/05/2018FFF00350Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �1225 31/05/2018FFF00400European Court of Human Rights Judgments � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �1225 31/05/2018GGG00500Water Services � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �1228 31/05/2018HHH02000Garda Divisional Headquarters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �1231 31/05/2018KKK00100Disposal of Hazardous Waste � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �1234 31/05/2018LLL00500Maternity Protection (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �1237 31/05/2018RRR00500Maternity Protection (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2018: Referral to Select Committee [Pri- vate Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �1251 DÁIL ÉIREANN Déardaoin, 31 Bealtaine 2018 Thursday, 31 May 2018 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 9�30 a�m� Paidir. Prayer. 31/05/2018A00100Referendum of 25 May: Statements (Resumed) 31/05/2018A00200Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Helen McEntee): I always have and always will respect that there are different views, beliefs and opinions on this issue, however, the outcome on Saturday and the resounding “Yes” from the people of Ireland to repeal the eighth amendment was one of the proudest moments for me in over five years that I have been in this House. As a citizen of Ireland, it represents a seismic shift and change in our society, especially for the women in this country� I am proud if I played any small part in bringing about that change� Much of what needed to be said has been said, so I want to thank the people who have played a part, large or small, in this process� I thank the people who campaigned against inserting the eighth amendment into the Constitution in 1983, those who had the foresight to know that it would not save lives but would in fact cost lives� I thank the women, men and organisations who have campaigned since then, many of whom made it their life’s ambition to remove the eighth amendment from the Constitution� I thank the Members of the Dáil and Seanad, those in Governments past and those in the current Government� I thank Deputies Ruth Coppinger and Clare Daly for bringing forward proposals and legislation, although they were not compatible with the eighth amendment, and for keeping this issue on the agenda and for continuously try- ing to do so, even when it was not the popular thing to do� Our former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, understood what the people of this country needed and had the foresight to recognise that this decision had to come from the citizens of this country� I thank him for bringing this to the Citizens’ Assembly and the work he has done in that regard� I thank the members of the Citizens’ Assembly and its chair for the time they gave to the assembly, for listening so carefully to the evidence presented to it and for their recom- mendations� I thank the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, and particularly to my colleagues, the Chairman, Senator Catherine Noone, for her exemplary work and the manner in which she chaired the committee, Senator Jerry Buttimer, Deputies Peter Fitzpatrick, 1104 31 May 2018 Hildegarde Naughton, Bernard Durkan and, in particular, Kate O’Connell, many of whom have come on their own journeys along the way� I thank the members from all political parties for the difference they have made, the many hours of listening to expert medical and legal advice, and the most important advice, which came from the men and women of this country who have been impacted by the eighth amendment� I thank our Taoiseach, Deputy Leo Varadkar, for staying true to his word, for listening and understanding that the people of Ireland would make the right decision� I thank him for setting a date for the referendum so quickly� I thank the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, for treating this issue with such care and for bringing forward legislation, and having set the wheels in motion already for legislation that I believe will allow the women and the doctors of Ireland to make the right decisions for them and their families in their own situations� I thank the Members of this House from all parties, the people who work in their offices and those from all the organisations who came together and said “Together for Yes”, including Ailbhe Smyth, Orla O’Connor and Gráinne Griffin, the people who knocked on doors, who can- vassed, dropped in literature, put up posters and who had the difficult conversations that they never thought that they would have� To the many people who came on their own journeys - a phrase that we can probably get rid of now - I thank them sincerely for the difference they have made, and I particularly thank the young women and men who put their names on the register for the first time, who campaigned and made a difference. I ask them to please continue to be involved, to campaign and to make a difference because they are the kind of people that this country needs and will depend on in the years to come� Finally, to the women who lost their lives because of the eighth amendment, their families who told their stories and the women of this country who told their stories when they never should have had to, I thank them for opening so many eyes to reality� As a young woman, I will be forever grateful� 31/05/2018A00300Deputy
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