I refer to a comment by Senator Paul Bradford regarding the proposed abortion legislation, the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013. He said that he did not think that hiding under a Whip was the correct way for Oireachtas Members to approach such a contentious Bill. He is quite right and I ask the Leader whether we should have a debate on the operation of the Whip and the possibility of a free vote on an unprecedented life and death issue such as this. In other jurisdictions, conscience issues of such moment are the subject of a free vote.

I prefer that the Fine Gael Party keeps its election promise and one could argue against a Whip on the basis that everybody signed up to a particular promise but it is infinitely preferable to breaking that promise and legislating for abortion, to allow people at least the freedom of their consciences. Many Deputies and Senators are deeply troubled by this legislation. I do not have to remind colleagues either that this House is under scrutiny these days and it is important that we show our distinctiveness and that we take issues perhaps more seriously on occasions than the other House. More important - and another reason - are the extremely disturbing comments made by the Minister for Health on Sunday when he admitted that the Bill would probably result in more babies being delivered having suffered damage because of their premature delivery.

The Senator should quote the Minister properly if he going to do so at all.

That is not what the Minister said. The Senator should not misquote him.

It is absolutely Orwellian and dystopian. I am misquoting the news report. The Minister said he accepted that.

I insist that the Senator does not misquote the Minister, especially on something as profound as this. I also insist that he puts it in the context of the conversation.

I have never misquoted anybody in this House.

In the context of the conversation-----

Senator Mullen's time is up.

The Minister did accept that this legislation would see this terrible scenario. He tried to justify it on the grounds that the only alternative would be to force pregnancies to continue but we are not here talking about necessary medical treatments where a physical illness requires an intervention; we are effectively talking about abortion on request.

We are not.

There is no medical evidence to back up-----

We are not having the debate today.

That is what it amounts to.

There is a full month ahead for that debate.

He is not only misquoting the Minister but he is also justifying the facts that suit himself.

On a point of order, the Senator insists on misrepresenting both the nature of the legislation and the Minister’s comments.

We are not having a debate on it.

This is the type of denial we have been getting -----

The Senator is in denial.

-----in recent weeks and months. That is what really has people frightened.

Senator Mullen’s commentary is the type of misrepresentation that we have had to listen to over the past three to five weeks.

The Senator's time is up.

I will happily compare notes with people of goodwill on any side of the House on this issue, but I will not be fooled by the head honchos on the Government side who want to swear that black is white, and to avoid frightening the-----

How does the Senator interpret goodwill?

Given that there are people deeply troubled on both sides, I believe what has happened here is a clear indication that we ought to have a debate on the possibility of a free vote.

It is a clear indication of the Senator's misrepresentation of the facts and his own justification to suit his own facts.