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.  

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."