A bill to ensure unborn babies undergoing late-term abortions are given pain relief was introduced in the Dáil yesterday by Independent TD Carol Nolan.

Co-sponsored by ten other TDs, the ‘Foetal Pain Relief Bill 2021’ seeks to ensure that no baby dies experiencing excruciating pain or discomfort from the abortion procedure.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Nolan said: “The infliction of unnecessary and avoidable pain on human beings – especially on those with no capacity to resist – is something all compassionate societies should seek to avoid”.

She added: “Medical science has known for some time that unborn babies can experience pain from 20 weeks gestation. However, an increasing body of scientific research from about 2007 onwards has suggested that the brain and nervous system develop at a rate which means that unborn babies may feel pain as early as 13 weeks. The latest such study was published just last year in the Journal of Medical Ethics.”

Commenting on the introduction of the new bill, Síle Quinlan of the Pro Life Campaign said it is a humanitarian bill that should be supported by every parliamentarian of goodwill.

“The new bill won’t end late-term abortions, but it will introduce a modicum of compassion towards unborn babies whose lives are being ended by abortion”.

She added: “There is absolutely no justification in having a law (Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013) that compels vets to administer pain relief to animals during any procedure that might cause them pain or distress and not having a law that ensures unborn babies are at least treated with the same mercy”.