I, too, think today is a sad day. Yesterday, the Department of Health published its report on the abortion figures for 2025. There were 10,600 abortions last year - the highest yet since the eighth amendment was repealed. Since 2018, there have been 65,000 lives lost across this country to abortion. That number is equal to the entire population of Sligo. A few weeks ago, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste were pushing for and voted for removal of three-day wait. We were told about how women have made their minds up and do not need a paternalistic waiting period before having an abortion. A few weeks later, the Government proposed paid miscarriage and abortion leave. These are the same people who dismiss most abortion regret and trauma. The three-day wait could prevent a woman from experiencing that grief and ever needing abortion leave in the first place. It has to be said that miscarriage and abortion are not the same thing. A miscarriage is an unintentional and often unexpected loss. Abortion is a choice. In both cases a life has been lost, but the Government cannot have it both ways. It cannot acknowledge the emotional weight of a woman losing her baby, then, on the other hand, brush off the need for the waiting period that could have prevented that event.

The State's policy has made it difficult for people to have children or start their family. Due to tax individualisation, a dual-income household can earn more at a lower tax band than a one-income family. A parent might want to stay at home for a few years with their baby, but the Government has no interest in facilitating that. It will pay for the abortion, give the person a few days' leave and hope that they do not notice it has not removed any of the barriers to motherhood and parenting.