An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-12
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Fiona O'Loughlin (FF), Administrative Panel

We need to spend a proportionate amount of time to make sure that we get it right. I think Senator Clonan is completely wrong in what he says.
Senator Sarah O'Reilly spoke about the Social Democrats' Bill in the Dáil. I acknowledge that it is a very difficult situation for any woman who has a crisis pregnancy. Our first thought must always go to that woman in relation to difficult decisions facing her. It is a difficult situation. There is no other area of healthcare where practitioners are exposed to criminal liability if things go wrong. In his response to this, the Taoiseach has said that the Government is committed to ensuring there is safe and equitable access to abortion services. Services for terminations up to 12 weeks are now provided in all 19 maternity hospitals. There are 491 community providers, following a sustained increase. That is important and it has to be recognised. I want to recognise here that there is a very broad spectrum of sincerely held opinion on the issue of legislative change on either side. Proposals of this nature require careful consideration. That is the only comment I will make in relation to that.
Senator Martin Conway looked for a national audit on vacant properties in the ownership of the State, where buildings that are now derelict can be used either for housing or, indeed, for community use. I completely agree with him. With the support of a Member of the Dáil, I submitted a parliamentary question on this in respect of my own county of Kildare. I certainly was not satisfied with the response I got. The information is not there and I was certainly aware of other buildings not mentioned in the reply. It is a huge piece of work but I support the Senator's call for it.
Senator Ahearn spoke about International Nurses Day and the ambulance. He spoke particularly about the nurses in Clonmel where he and his two children received the really important help that they needed.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-12/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:55+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-12