I move amendment No. 7: In page 6, to delete lines 20 to 23.

I move amendment No. 8: In page 6, line 28, to delete “but does not include” and substitute “and includes”

It is not agreed.

No.

Vótáil.

Go raibh míle maith agat Cathaoirligh agus b'fhearr liom fáilte a chur roimh ár n-aíonna ó Ghaelcholáiste Cheatharlach. I also welcome our other distinguished guests. I would like to second the Bill of my friend Senator Martin. I know from Senator Keogan that she does not anticipate any stiff opposition to this particular Bill. It seems to be worthy of support from all sides of the House. I wish our new Senator well. I was going to introduce myself as a member of a minority group in the House but since the recent r…

I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate the Minister on her reappointment. We look forward to seeing her regularly in this House, although not on one particular Bill unless there are substantial changes but we will talk about that on another occasion. The Minister has brought a very important issue before us. I support the motion that we opt in to this measure. It is vital, as a country, that we up our game in response to the problem of human trafficking. Maybe we should have a debate in the House on w…

Is lá stairiúil é seo agus guím gach rath ar an Taoiseach, Teachta Leo Varadkar, agus é fógartha anois aige go bhfuil sé chun éirí as oifig. I would like to be associated with all those wishing Leo Varadkar well on this very surprising day when he announced he is to retire as Taoiseach and as leader of Fine Gael. I think the history books will show that Mr. Varadkar has been a very talented man and has sought to serve his country to the best of his ability. His talents have been on display on many an occasion. Whil…

He did it Bertie-style.

I would also like to add my voice of welcome to my Oireachtas colleague, Deputy Farrell, and all the great guests. I see at least two teachers with the students from Pope John Paul II National School, Malahide. I had the great good fortune to meet Pope John Paul, now St. John Paul, who was a tremendously charismatic figure. He was a great champion of human dignity and respect for every person, however vulnerable or weak. Of course, he was influential in bringing down the Iron Curtain and ending the harsh communist …

We will start with amendment No. 3, which proposes, "In page 6, lines 10 and 11, to delete “within 100 metres of an entrance to either House of the Oireachtas”." I will resume from where we were on page 6. The clause as it currently stands states: Nothing in section 2(2) shall prohibit a person from engaging in lawful protest, advocacy or dissent within 100 metres of an entrance to either House of the Oireachtas, provided such protest, advocacy or dissent is not directed at a specific relevant healthcare premises, …

It is not an issue of choice if you are a young medical student who wants to specialise in obstetrics. I can say that to Senator McGreehan, who is my friend and colleague. They will be a second-class citizen if they believe that an unborn baby deserves to be protected, if they want to be the top obstetrician in their field but if they do not want to kill an unborn child. How much space will be made for them in the medical profession? They will not be required-----

I note that the Minister is uncomfortable with some of the ground that is being covered here but he and his predecessor, Deputy Harris, bear huge responsibility for the injustice that is now ongoing. It does a disservice to both mothers and their unborn children in this country, because of the vacuousness of their political approach and the completely unprincipled attitudes they now have to the protection of human life. My point is relevant to the amendment because we are speaking here about whether there is to be …

-----but ideologically, they are on the hook.

I am speaking to the amendment.

This amendment is about creating the space for free speech. I am demonstrating that the Government is on board with an agenda to curtail free speech in Irish society. I am thinking of the difficulty faced by an idealistic young medical student or a nurse who is coming up through the system, who wants to be the best he or she can be in helping to provide care for other human beings but who does not want to be involved in the killing of an innocent child. Such people are second-class citizens under the health system …

I would see it as a human rights position.

There is a lot to respond to in what my friend Senator Gavan-----

I am happy to let the Minister respond, but while I am on my feet I welcome the students from St. Kieran's College in Kilkenny, and their teachers if they are there. I had the pleasure of visiting that fine establishment in the past year when I presented one of the "highly commended" awards to one of the students. Is Paul there? I cannot recall his surname. He got his award from me. I say well done. He wrote an essay that was highly commended in our inaugural Oireachtas essay competition. I got a wonderful welcome …

They are here for a dramatic discussion. There is a difference of opinion.