The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), whose work is of immense importance to the people, met the Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment on 4 October 2017. 1 They presented a prepared document 2 to the Oireachtas Committee. The document is entitled Human rights and equality considerations in the development of a new legislative and regulatory framework on abortion. Of the 15 members of IHREC, two dissented from the report.

I find the IHREC document utterly shocking. Its 38 pages with over 17,000 words rightly present a strong case for concern for the welfare and health of the pregnant woman. What is shocking is the absence of expressed concern for the welfare and life of the unborn child.