Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

First, the women of Ireland and everybody in Ireland will know exactly my positions and the positions of my party in a general election on this and other issues. It is not correct to say that no progress has been made in relation to that report as a number of operational elements have been implemented by the Department of Health. While I am open to correction on this, I am not sure it is correct to say that the health committee has endorsed the implementation of all the findings of the Marie O’Shea report. I would certainly be surprised if it was the view of every member of the health committee that they were in favour of every single one of the recommendations. I am not sure that is the case but I am open to correction on it. There are different and sincere views on this. I have different views in relation to the mandatory waiting period than some of my predecessors had. However, it is important to say that in the lifetime of this Dáil, we are unlikely to see any further legislative reform, so it will be a matter for the next Dáil.

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