On Wednesday, May 11, Maria Steen (pictured) of The Iona Institute debated the issue of abortion and the 8th amendment with Colm O’Gorman of Amnesty International Ireland.

They appeared together on the Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk.

A highlight was when Maria asked Colm a question that resulted in several seconds silence from Colm which was broken by Pat Kenny.

Towards the end of the debate, Maria put it to Colm: “The Irish Constitution protects the right to life of the pregnant woman and her baby. Now, if we can protect and save both lives, what’s so wrong with that?”

Colm went silent for several seconds before replying: “We can’t”.

Maria responded: “Why not? This is the nub of the 8th amendment. It values [both lives] equally and cherishes every human life and Colm has still not admitted and talked about the baby, that the baby in the womb is a human being”.

The debate can be heard in full here.