Naturally enough, the Pro Life Campaign has reacted with surprise over the appointment today by Minister James Reilly of Tony O'Brien a leading abortion campaigner to the top job in the HSE.
Giving O'Brien the job as Chief Executive is very significant considering this is a man who campaigned vigorously against the 2002 pro-life referendum.
It's telling that an Irish Independent report on the O'Brien last week described him as a 'close confidante' of Minister Reilly. Could this explain some of Reilly less well advised comments on the abortion issue in recent times?
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Not well for the Minister one would expect.
See the Pro Life Campaigns statement on this issue here
Irish Examiner - Does the paper want to survive?
Can someone tell the Irish Examiner editorial team that being pro-life is the majority view and a mainstream view and the article they have published today (25th July 2012) is way out on the wings?
The tone is hysterical - a label the columnist bestows on pro-life campaigners. The language is hostile and bitter and polarising. This type of journalism is not conducive to genuine and mature debate on this important human rights issue.
The columnist glosses over the fact that both referenda post the X Case (on the substantive issue) were rejected by pro-lifers ( all of them in 1992 and a minority number in 2002).
The columnist references the 'alleged' opinion polls showing that a majority of the Irish public support the pro-life position. They either exist or they don't and last I heard Millward Brown Lansdowne and Red C were fairly significant players in the Irish market research scene. And it's worth noting that all the Millward Brown Lansdowne polls commissioned by the Pro Life Campaign in recent years actually spoke with members of the public face-to-face and didn't poll self-selected online groups.
There is nothing stopping pro-choice columnists from putting across their point of view and it is their right but the Irish Examiner should think twice before publishing such bitter polarising negative columns in their paper - especially since over and over again the Munster public - a large majority of them in fact - support protection of current medical practice in Ireland, a practice that safeguards womens' lives and protects the unborn child.
Does the Irish Examiner even want to survive?
The tone is hysterical - a label the columnist bestows on pro-life campaigners. The language is hostile and bitter and polarising. This type of journalism is not conducive to genuine and mature debate on this important human rights issue.
The columnist glosses over the fact that both referenda post the X Case (on the substantive issue) were rejected by pro-lifers ( all of them in 1992 and a minority number in 2002).
The columnist references the 'alleged' opinion polls showing that a majority of the Irish public support the pro-life position. They either exist or they don't and last I heard Millward Brown Lansdowne and Red C were fairly significant players in the Irish market research scene. And it's worth noting that all the Millward Brown Lansdowne polls commissioned by the Pro Life Campaign in recent years actually spoke with members of the public face-to-face and didn't poll self-selected online groups.
There is nothing stopping pro-choice columnists from putting across their point of view and it is their right but the Irish Examiner should think twice before publishing such bitter polarising negative columns in their paper - especially since over and over again the Munster public - a large majority of them in fact - support protection of current medical practice in Ireland, a practice that safeguards womens' lives and protects the unborn child.
Does the Irish Examiner even want to survive?
Abortion in Ireland? Hardly with both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail supporting pro-life position
Interesting times. In the last couple of weeks, a number of Fine Gael politicians have rebelled against the Minister For Health James Reilly and have stated that they will not support abortion legislation. A number of members of the Labour party are of the same mind, despite the fact that Labour officially holds a pro-choice position.
This week, leader of Fianna Fail, Michéal Martin came out in support of the pro-life position also in response to Labour Minister Kathleen Lynch's assertion on RTÉ Radio that the Government would have 'no choice' but to legislate.
Clearly she is wrong. Both the Irish public and many members of the Government believe in safeguarding mothers' lives in Ireland and protecting the right to life of unborn children.
I've posted two recent press statements from the Pro Life Campaign below.
This week, leader of Fianna Fail, Michéal Martin came out in support of the pro-life position also in response to Labour Minister Kathleen Lynch's assertion on RTÉ Radio that the Government would have 'no choice' but to legislate.
Clearly she is wrong. Both the Irish public and many members of the Government believe in safeguarding mothers' lives in Ireland and protecting the right to life of unborn children.
I've posted two recent press statements from the Pro Life Campaign below.
Martin statement re abortion legislation "timely and welcome" say Pro Life Campaign
23rd July 2012
Fianna Fáil leader Michéal Martin's comments today, in which he said that legislation to allow abortion along the lines of the X case would effectively lead to abortion on demand "are timely and welcome", the Pro Life Campaign (PLC) have said.
In a statement, PLC spokesperson Dr Ruth Cullen said that Mr Martin's remarks "acknowledged the reality of what an Irish abortion regime would look like after legislation".
Dr Cullen said: "The past week has been heartening for those who still believe that when political parties make promises, they should stick by them.
"Last week we saw a significant number of Fine Gael TDs and Senators remind their party leadership of their election pledge to stand up for unborn human life. Today we saw Michéal Martin reaffirm his party's commitment to the same principle: that human life must be protected at all stages. Both developments were timely and welcome.
"At a time when Labour politicians are trying to bully the Government into believing the myth that the European court judgement in the A,B and C v Ireland case obliges Ireland to legalise abortion, we welcome the clarity which both Mr Martin's comments, and the stance taken by backbench Fine Gael TDs, have brought to the debate.
Pro Life Campaign challenges Minister Lynch over remarks on abortion
22nd July 2012
The Pro Life Campaign has challenged the Minister of State at the Department for Health Kathleen Lynch over her remarks today on RTÉ’s This Week programme where she stated that she did not think the Government "had a choice" but to legislate for abortion if the Expert Group, having looked at the issue, recommends abortion legislation.
Commenting on Minister Lynch’s remarks, Dr. Ruth Cullen of the Pro Life Campaign said:
"The Expert Group is tasked with producing a wide range of options for consideration by the Government and is not meant to recommend one particular course of action. If the Expert Group reports with a narrow list of options, all leading to abortion, it will not be based on medicine or law but politics.
"The European court judgment in A, B and C v Ireland did not compel Ireland to introduce abortion. It sought clarity in the law in this area which is an entirely different matter. Those seeking to introduce abortion in Ireland are intentionally distorting this fact while ignoring another important fact, namely, that Ireland, without abortion, is the safest place in the world for pregnant women."
RTÉ Primetime programme on 19th July 2012.
Go to minute 12 for a concise report on the abortion issue. Senator Rónán Mullen takes on Deputy Michael McNamara of the Labour party in studio
http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=10038320
Go to minute 12 for a concise report on the abortion issue. Senator Rónán Mullen takes on Deputy Michael McNamara of the Labour party in studio
http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=10038320
Fine Gael TDs and Senators to resist abortion liberalisation
The Irish Times reports today that a good number of FG Parliamentary Party members are set to oppose any moves by the Minister for Health James Reilly to introduce abortion in Ireland.
This is good news for mothers and baby. Ireland, without abortion, is the safest place in the world for pregnant women. Let's keep it this way.
Fine Gael TDs and Senators deserve congratulations for taking this stance. No doubt they will individually benefit from it at the next General Election. The pro-life majority vote with their feet.
Read the Irish Times report in full here
Millward Brown Lansdowne opinion poll finds majority of people want Fine Gael to keep pro-life commitment
The Pro Life Campaign have launched a billboard campaign highlighting the findings of its most recent opinion poll.
The latest Millward Brown Lansdowne polling research on life issues shows strong public backing for the pro-life commitments made by Fine Gael prior to the general election in 2011. The research also reveals significant public support for current medical practice in Ireland where there is a duty of care towards the baby when intervening in pregnancy to save the mother’s life.
The research was carried out on a quota controlled sample of 979 people aged 18+ between 2nd – 15th May 2012.
The first question reads:
Just prior to polling day in the 2011 General Election, Fine Gael said it was opposed to the legalisation of abortion and experimentation on human embryos. It said that Fine Gael’s representatives would bring to the proposed all-party committee a clear commitment that women in pregnancy will receive whatever treatments are necessary to safeguard their lives, and the duty of care to preserve the life of the baby will also be upheld. Would you agree or disagree with this commitment?
Overall, of those who expressed an opinion, 80% agreed with the commitment and 20% disagreed. In Connacht/Ulster which includes the Taoiseach’s constituency of Mayo, 87% agreed and only 13% disagreed.
The second question was worded as follows:
Current medical practice in Ireland does not allow the deliberate killing of the unborn baby. In a crisis pregnancy situation, the doctor has a duty of care towards the baby when intervening to save the mother’s life. Do you consider that this ethical practice should be protected by law?
78% of those who expressed an opinion said it should and 22% disagreed. There was majority support in all ages, social classes and regions.
Commenting on the poll findings, Dr Berry Kiely of the Pro Life Campaign said: “When the ethical distinction between induced abortion and necessary medical interventions in pregnancy is clarified in polling questions, the true strength of public opposition to abortion is revealed. The latest poll findings bear this out and are immensely reassuring from a pro-life perspective.”
Referring to the speech by Minister for Health, James Reilly in the Dáil during the recent Private Members’ Bill on abortion, Dr Kiely said, “The Minister for Health’s speech alarmed pro-life supporters and he has a responsibility to clarify his position and that of Fine Gael”.
In his speech Minister Reilly said that the previous six governments had failed to legislate for the X Case decision but that the present Government “will not be the seventh.”
In response to this, Dr Kiely said, “It is clear from the Minister’s remarks that he does not expect the “Expert Group” on abortion to list as one of its options ways of complying with the European Court of Human Rights decision in A, B and C v. Ireland, that afford legal protection to both mother and baby in pregnancy. This completely undermines Fine Gael’s solemn pre-election commitment opposing abortion legislation and pledging that “women in pregnancy will receive whatever treatments are necessary to safeguard their lives and the duty of care to preserve the life of the baby will also be upheld.
“Legislation based on the X Case would amount to abortion on demand as the judges heard no medical evidence and set no time limits for when an abortion could take place. In addition the recent European court decision in A, B and C v. Ireland does not oblige us to introduce an abortion regime.
“Instead of repeating pro-abortion claims, the Minister for Health needs to acknowledge that Ireland, without abortion, is the safest country in the world for pregnant women as recognised by the UN and World Health Organisation. The Minister also needs to clarify Fine Gael’s stance on abortion in light of his recent speech in the Dáil”, Dr Kiely concluded.
You can download poll findings from the Pro Life Campaign website here
Number of women travelling to Britain for abortion down for tenth year
PLC welcomes fall in abortion rates for tenth consecutive year. While abortion rates fall, rate of women regretting abortions rise
29th May 2012
The Pro Life Campaign has welcomed the latest Irish abortion figures released today by the British Department of Health,* which show that the number of Irish women travelling to Britain for abortions has decreased for the tenth consecutive year.
In 2011, 4,149 Irish women travelled to Britain for abortions, down from 4,402 in 2010 and 4,422 in 2009. The 2011 figures show a marked decrease over previous years. 2011 is the tenth consecutive year that Irish abortions have declined and represents a 38% decline since the high of 6,673 Irish abortions in 2001.
The release of these figures follows the recent report ** from the HSE/Crisis Pregnancy Programme showing an increase in the number of women expressing abortion regret. In that study, 44 per cent of women expressed varying degrees of regret about their abortions up from 33 per cent in a similar HSE study in 2003.
In a statement welcoming the continuing reduction in the number of Irish women travelling to Britain for abortion, Cora Sherlock of the Pro Life Campaign said:
“While it is too early to draw firm conclusions, the fact that the abortion figures are decreasing while the number of women expressing regret after abortion is increasing, shows the need for a much closer examination of women’s experiences of abortion, including abortion regret."
She said: “There has been a refusal on the part of those campaigning for abortion in Ireland to take on board the research indicating the negative consequences of abortion for women. This does a tremendous disservice to women. The claims by some groups that the reduced figures can be explained by the fact that women are travelling to other countries is not backed by the evidence."
*Summary Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2011 (29/05/12)
** Irish Contraception and Crisis Pregnancy Study 2010 (ICCP 2010), published in May 2012 (HSE/CPP)
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