Following the referendum which was overwhelmingly carried in May, the legislation to give effect to the decision, which most of us had hoped would have been introduced, cannot be introduced until a challenge is disposed of in the courts. Does the Taoiseach have an indication of the timeline involved in the courts given they will also have a long recess? Does he expect the legislation to be introduced on Second Stage in September? Is the Government also working on the regulations to accompany the legislation in parallel in order that there are no further delays?

On the same matter-----

The Deputy cannot speak on the same matter unless she is a leader. Is she acting for the leader?

Yes.

All right. If she is the leader, she is the leader.

Obviously we have seen a draft of the legislation but there are a couple of glaring issues. Abortion should be fully decriminalised. We still retain a 14-year jail sentence for somebody who might assist somebody to have an abortion at 13 weeks, for example, which is really dangerous. It will have a chilling effect on doctors and could end up endangering women's health. A 72-hour waiting period should not be nailed into law. It should not be made mandatory. It could be made optional and dealt with in medical guidelines.

We were promised any legislation would use language that was trans-inclusive and the language I have seen clearly is not. That is a big demand of young people in society. I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that multiple visits are not enforced on women and pregnant people because they will just hit very young people, very vulnerable people, working women and others.

We cannot have a debate on the matter.

Those really need to be looked at.

In answer to Deputy Catherine Murphy's question first, we are working on the regulations and the clinical guidelines. The intention is to make abortion services available to Irish women from January next year. We are working on the regulations, guidelines, funding models and all the things that must be put in place in order that the services can be provided from January. It is our intention to introduce the legislation in September but obviously what happens in the courts is well beyond my remit. It is best that we allow the judges in the High Court - and if there is an appeal the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court - to make their decisions without any pressure from us in this House. Hopefully they will hear the case and the appeal, if there is an appeal, as quickly as possible.

What about decriminalisation?

All things going to plan, assuming the court challenges are unsuccessful, the legislation will be before the Dáil in September and it will be open to Deputies to propose amendments to legislation at that point.