Bríd Smith Urges House Debate on Abortion Review Findings
Bríd Smith called for a full House debate on the independent review of termination of pregnancy legislation, saying the business committee has refused space for statements. She argued the review contains startling findings and insisted the job of legislating rests with the house and the government, not solely with the health committee.
Review released
The report on termination of pregnancy legislation has been published and was described by the speaker as a welcome review with startling findings.
Committee timetable
The speaker noted the review is due to go before the health committee in "three or four sessions" and is allegedly expected to finish before the summer, but said that timetable does not remove the need for a plenary debate.
Request to the business committee
The speaker requested that the business committee seriously consider allocating time in the house for statements and debate on the review rather than dismissing the matter.
House versus committee responsibility
The speaker argued it is not the job of the health committee to enact necessary legislation - that responsibility lies with this house and ultimately with the government.
Parliamentary time and priorities
The speaker observed that time this week has been set aside to debate the cost of living and that the government wants to use its time for legislation, but emphasised the importance of setting aside time to discuss the review and act as legislators.
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The report that we have been waiting for in this house is the review on the termination of pregnancy legislation and it has finally come through and it is a welcome review and it has startling findings in it but I understand the business committee has refused space for statements on this now I know that the review is going before the health committee in three or four sessions allegedly to finish before the summer on a report to come back but it is really not the job of the health committee to talk about legislation that is required it is the job of this house and ultimately the job of the government to legislate so I want to argue that there should be time given in this house to debate that most important and long awaited review and I am requesting that the business committee seriously consider this and not dismiss it because women have waited long enough for full access to abortion rights in this country in relation to the independent review on abortion services and abortion laws my understanding is that the business committee decided to allow the committee to do its work first and then we can come back here for further debate and I think that is appropriate time has been set aside this week to debate the cost of living the government wants to use its time for legislation it is important that we set aside time to talk about things it is also important that we set aside times to do things as legislators and we will be using our time for legislation to do to to to to to to to to to
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