Surreal Moment at Leinster House

This is not a baby

I sat in the AV room at Leinster House with eight women and one man in front of me, a full audience of TDs and Senators behind. Richard Boyd Barrett introduced the topic and revealed that he and his former partner had the experience of fatal foetal abnormality, he certainly empathised with the issue.

Ruth had only begun her story and I was crying. Thankfully I had the canteen serviettes in my bag, because there were eight more stories to go and I don’t think I could have remained sitting.

You see, even though I went through the trauma of fatal foetal abnormality eleven years ago, I have never known anyone I could talk to, or with whom I could share the experience. Even though I wrote about it, and took the first human rights case against Ireland, I still felt alienated as if this was something only I had to go through. 

So today was quite a milestone. I had no intention of speaking because I find it very difficult to repeat my story but I realised I could remember all the legal nuances from my ECHR case and the Heads of Bill.

I stood and said I was Deirdre de Barra who wrote the letter in 2002. I am normally very nervous speaking in public, but the facts were so well known to me and the wrongdoing so clear, that it wasn't an effort, the point was to remind these legislators how to enable the amendment to the Bill. 

It was funny and kind of David Norris to say to me afterwards that he kept my letter. Indeed it was very moving to hear each and every one who spoke in response, that they would support legislation in this situation.

Catherine Murphy Kildare North TD said it all when she described the listening experience as surreal, stating that briefings in the AV Room were generally full of engagement, questions and explanations, but in this case there was no need, it was so clear that change was needed.

I firmly believe there is scope to amend the proposed bill, we have cross party support and I believe that support will grow. It was unfortunate that Peter Mathews had to leave mid presentation, the briefing was only for an hour, if he couldn’t stay he shouldn’t have come in. Because he missed what I had to say to him. Don’t compare a flower with a fatally abnormal foetus.

Downtime at Landladyhouse

Back home in landladyland milestones have been passed since last week, both cost centres have finished third level. They talk of needing downtime, they don't need to. They're in perma-bed ever since. I've become a bit of a lazy mother since taking up residence in Leinster House; well I would reside if I could find the bedrooms the Duke of Leinster no doubt appointed for guests. I've slept in the Duke's suite at Carton, I just need a word with bald usher and I'm there.

CC#2 Final Exam Breakfast Avocado and Poached Egg

I've found just about everything else, including the Bold Room and since today the AV Room, where briefings are held. The cost centres still have to find their own pathway (my new term from the Oireachtas hearings) or indeed a space to master and inhabit. Remember when we had those career guidance advisors in school and mock interviews, it was all so abstract, how on earth do you know? As far as CC#1 is concerned he’s heading off to Mullingar for a music festival this weekend as he turns 23, talk of CVs or jobs is off the agenda until next week. 

I thought the ‘Irish Mammy’ was someone like ‘Mary, dear’ from the Riordans, ok too far back, but at least someone from a generation we wouldn’t recognise. I fear she is staring me in the face in my bathroom.

CC#2 is interning for the summer followed by a post grad in the autumn. He’s struggling to decide where to holiday in the meantime. Bless that tax rebate from the J1 job.

The Gentlemen lodgers are still here, #1 is in a high state of excitement with the level of rugby on recent weekends. G.L.#2 continues to patronise Dublin’s arts and culture scene and keep me abreast of what’s hot and not.

I keep house, after a fashion. Filed my book review on Monday, wrote another Indo piece coming out tomorrow. Fired off my own book today to three publishers, deciding I couldn’t wait for agents to get back to me.

Since the weekend, the cul de sac is enlivened for two weeks while neighbour husband returns from Sydney for the young fella's communion. Rumours that there is a job shortage in Australia are not exaggerated, he has been searching for 5 months and only came back because he's starts a contract in June. Harmony restored in Lara's house, and a happy communion boy to boot.

I sat in the Dáil Bold Room on Tuesday, loving the news being made by the minute, the Shatter Wallace carry-on, then came the tweet about his censored steamy novel. I read other peoples books for research, to see how high the bar is for publishing, or how low, as is often the case. I just had to check out Minister Shatter’s novel. Of course all copies were taken off Amazon, but I managed to find a second-hand one in the USA, I’m distraught at having to pay 30 dollars, but hey, it's a collector’s item.

By Thursday I discover 'Laura, A story you will never forget', by A Shatter is for sale at £165.00 and there are only two copies left, I fear my relatively cheap copy could be intercepted at the Customs courtesy of Garda insider surveillance, don’t know why I get that feeling. But I want to do a book review. I feel it deserves it. Anyone?