Yes or No? We ask local TDs and councillors how they will vote

Back in February we asked our Dáil deputies and local authority members to indicate how they will vote in the Eighth Amendment Referendum. Last week, with just over a week to go to polling day, we posed the question again. Here are the responses of County

CLLR DAVID HYNES, NON PARTY Wexford Borough District

‘I normally don’t sit on the fence but I’m still not decided. I can see both sides of the debate. I didn’t get involved in the campaign because I’m not committed enough to either side. They’re talking about abortion up to 12 weeks, but they’re not saying in what cases. Is it an open door? I honestly haven’t decided yes or no at this stage.’

CLLR BARBARA ANNE MURPHY, FF Enniscorthy Municipal District

‘After a lot of deliberating, I’ll be voting Yes. On the balance of things, I think given everything that’s there, it’s cognisant of the right to life of both mammies and babies.’

CLLR GEORGE LAWLOR, LABOUR Wexford Borough District

‘I will be voting yes. It’s an indisputable fact that abortion takes place in Ireland on a daily basis and women and girls are taking abortion pills in an unsafe and unregulated manner and some are being forced to go to Britain to have abortions. I feel it’ s time to tackle this problem and stop pretending that it doesn’ t exist. I want to offer women compassion in crisis situations .’

CLLR KEITH DOYLE, FIANNA FAIL Enniscorthy Municipal District

‘My position is the same as before really. I’m not going to tell people what to do. It’s a personal thing. I pretty much know which way I’ll be voting, but I wouldn’ t like to put up what I’ m doing as the benchmark for what they should do. From the outset, I said I’d stay out of it and wouldn’ t be campaigning either way .’

CLLR JIM MOORE, FINE GAEL Mayor, Wexford Borough District

‘I’m not out canvassing but I will be voting Yes. My opinion hasn’t changed since when it was first announced - I support it though I would have some concerns about what will be introduced. However, I think what is there at the moment does not work and we need to find a more appropriate solution to what is a complex and very personal issue.’

CLLR LISA MCDONALD, FIANNA FAIL Wexford Borough District

‘In 35 years, the 8th Amendment has thrown up too many hard cases and for that reason I will be voting to repeal. It’s a difficult issue and it’s a matter of conscience for each individual. There are divided opinions in political groupings. My advice to everyone is to take ownership of the issue themselves and to vote according to their consciences.’

CLLR PADDY KAVANAGH, FINE GAEL Enniscorthy Municipal District

‘I do have my own position on it and it’s this – it’ s personal. I think it’ s a personal decision and I won’ t bed is closing my own way of thinking on it or trying to influence anybody else.’

CLLR GER CARTHY, NON PARTY Wexford Borough District

‘I am not a legislator and I will not be framing the legislation. I cannot and will not support abortion on demand and I think people should make an informed decision incorporating all the parties.’

CLLR MICK ROCHE, SINN FEIN Wexford Borough District

‘I’m calling on people to vote yes as an act of compassion. Abortion is already a reality in Ireland. Remember what this vote is about; changing the law to allow the protection of pregnant Irish women, allowing dignity in intensely traumatic episodes and ending discrimination based on sex.’

CLLR KATHLEEN CODD-NOLAN, FG Enniscorthy Municipal District

‘To be honest, I’m hearing all these debates and I think it’ s difficult to makeup your mind. I won’ t say one way or another anyway. Idon’t think I’ ll know until I’ m in the booth on the day. I’m very pro-life, but at the same time, I see the reality of the situation as well.’

CLLR TONY DEMPSEY, FIANNA FAIL Wexford Borough District

‘I’ll be voting No to repealing the Eighth Amendment. In any event, we don’t know what the intended legislation will be.’

CLLR FRANK STAPLES, FINE GAEL Wexford Borough District

‘My idea at the moment is to vote yes but I am not 100% sure. I have a big issue with the whole thing; abortion is something that doesn’t sit easy with me. However, I feel the women of this country should be given the chance to make their own decision and I know that if I vote yes I will give them that chance but I couldn’ t say 100 per cent that at the moment that I will.’

CLLR WILLIE KAVANAGH, FIANNA FAIL Enniscorthy Municipal District

‘I haven’t come down on either side of the fence. I will go and vote on the day and that’ll be it. It’s a personal thing, especially for women of childbearing age. I don’t think politicians should get involved.’

CLLR TOM FORDE, SINN FEIN Wexford Borough District

‘I’ll be voting Yes. It’s 1983 since the last referendum - it might not come around again for a long time. People should be able to access healthcare they need. No one wants to have an abortion but sometimes people find themselves in bad situations, and we should trust women. No one should have the right to decide someone else’s healthcare.’

CLLR TONY WALSH, PBP ALLIANCE Wexford Borough District

‘I’ ve very much in favour of repeal. I’ m actually anti-abortion but I think if it isn’t repealed, nothing will change. We will continue to have people living in secrecy, going to the UK, using unregulated pills, etc. Safety and early education are key to this. I feel that if we repeal, we can create a world-class model which will reduce the number of abortions.’

CLLR JOHNNY MYTHEN, SINN FEIN Enniscorthy Municipal District

‘My position is the same and I’m voting for repeal. It’ s a vote for the protection of women. I’ve listened to both sides carefully and I believe there is an anomaly when it comes to women’s health. I think it’s all about having compassion for women. Whether it’ s repealed or not, abortions will still be part of life for Irish women. It’s just a matter of facing up to it.’

MINISTER PAUL KEHOE, FINE GAEL

‘The issues presented by this referendum are emotive and deeply personal to everybody. I respect all views and don’t intend to call on people to vote one way over another on Friday.’

CLLR JOHN O’ROURKE, NON PARTY Enniscorthy Municipal District

‘Each and every person in the state is entitled to make their own decision-be it yes or no. My position is that I will be voting with my own conscience and I won’t be saying publicly which way that is. People are intelligent enough to do their own research and make up their own minds on May 25.’

CLLR LARRY O’BRIEN, FINE GAEL New Ross Municipal District

‘I might be a councillor but I am not a law maker. It’s my own business how I am going to vote.’

CLLR ANTHONY DONOGHUE, FINE GAEL Gorey Municipal District

‘I will be keeping that to myself. It is a very personal choice. The public should inform themselves, but I won’t be disclosing what way I am voting.’

JAMES BROWNE TD, FIANNA FAIL

‘My position is the same as before. I’m all for decriminal is in gan dI’ min favour of change, but a full repeal goes that little bit too far for me. I did vote in favour of the referendum togo ahead and for people to have their say though, even though I’ll be voting No.’

CLLR OLIVER WALSH, FINE GAEL Enniscorthy Municipal District

‘I’ ll be keeping it to myself what way I’ m voting. It’ s up to every individual to satisfy themselves that they have enough information on it. I have an idea which way I’ ll be voting alright. But at the end of the day, everyone has to make up their own mind.’

CLLR OISÍN O’CONNELL, SINN FEIN New Ross Municipal District

‘This vote is equally about what replaces the 8 th. I could agree to some latitude for exceptional circumstances. But the Dáil (collectively) hasn’ t given any solid indication that they take protection of the unborn seriously-as a guiding legal concept in itself. I’ m voting No because the unborn have no voice or power over laws that determine their existence otherwise .’

CLLR PIP BREEN, FIANNA FAIL Gorey Municipal District

‘I will be voting no because I don’t trust the present government to legislate this properly. How can you trust a government like that after what came out about the cervical cancer screenings.’

MICK WALLACE TD, INDEPENDENTS 4 CHANGE

Deputy Mick Wallace did not wish to contribute to this news feature.

CLLR WILLIE FITZHARRIS, FINE GAEL New Ross Municipal District

‘I would be anti abortion but I think that women have to be equal and to be equal they have to be free to make a choice. The state should put the resources in place for women who find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy. I will be voting Yes as I feel aggrieved that we’ve been exporting our problems.’

CLLR MICHAEL SHEEHAN, FIANNA FAIL New Ross Municipal District

‘I’m voting No. It’ s a matter of conscience and personal choice. It’ s up to everyone to decide forth ems lev es and after reflecting on all the proposals and the debates, I will still be voting No, but I will respect the decision of the people and will be respecting the different opinions on everything.’

CLLR MALCOLM BYRNE, FIANNA FAIL Gorey Municipal District

‘I have found this a very difficult decision. I believe we must support women in crisis pregnancies, seek to make every unborn child wanted, and make terminations rare events. But if a termination does happen, for example in the case of a fatal foetal abnormality, it should be safe. I have reservations but I will be voting Yes on Friday.’

CLLR JOHN FLEMING, FIANNA FAIL New Ross Municipal District

‘The present system is now working but the question is what we replace it with that’s better. I’m not sure about giving authority to the Oireachtas if we vote for change so I am still undecided. I am more favouring a No vote at this stage as I’m not too happy about what’s replacing the 8th.’

CLLR MICHAEL WHELAN, FIANNA FAIL New Ross Municipal District

‘I am still undecided. I have spoken to my daughters who are 17 and 20 and they have said they are voting Yes. We have discussed the pros ands cons of it. I would be pro life but I am looking at the choices women have to make. I am looking for an argument that will sway me either way.’

CLLR MARY FARRELL, NON PARTY Gorey Municipal District

‘I am not stating what I am voting. It is very personal to everybody and a personal matter to inidviduals. Tome what is important is that everyone use their voice and use their vote.’

BRENDAN HOWLIN TD, LABOUR

‘We have had decades of discussion and concentrated debates in the Citizens’ Assembly and the Oireachtas committee. It’s now time to allow the people have their say. I’m voting Yes for the women and their families impacted by the 8th Amendment. When I cast my vote on the 25th, I’ll be thinking of the 429 women from Wexford who travelled to England from 2012 to 2016.’

CLLR ANTHONY CONNICK, NON PARTY New Ross Municipal District

‘I still don’t know. We were visited by the No canvassers last night and they dropped off leaflets but I haven’t had a chance to look at them with my partner. I am waiting for the Yes canvass team to call and then I will decide.’

CLLR JOHN HEGARTY, FINE GAEL Gorey Municipal District

’This is a sensitive issue and it is one where people should use their own moral compass when voting. The views of individual councillors are irrelevant to any discussion. I will be voting according to my own beliefs.’

CLLR ROBBIE IRETON, LABOUR Gorey Municipal District

‘I have not made my mind up, I am caught between the two. I think 12 weeks is too long and I would be more comfortable sitting with six weeks. There was no discussion with any party that I know of with an inbetween solution. It was either 12 weeks or nothing. I actually don’t know what I will do.’

MINISTER MICHAEL D’ARCY, FINE GAEL

‘I will be voting Yes. I am not comfortable with the 12 weeks, and it took me a long time to come to a decision.’

CLLR MARTIN MURPHY, NON PARTY New Ross Municipal District

‘I will be making up my mind as the week goes on. I have been listening to the debates and there is an extreme element taking the lead on both sides. That is why you have to continue to listen.’

CLLR JOE SULLIVAN, FIANNA FAIL Gorey Municipal District

‘I will be voting No. I have heard all arguments during the course of the debate and they have not convinced me to change my mind. I respect the opinion of people voting Yes and will totally accept the outcome.’

CLLR FIONNTÁN Ó SÚILLEABHÁIN, SF Gorey Municipal District

‘I still find it difficult to choose Yes or No. On the one hand I want to see compassion for those who find themseves in exceptional circumstances, while on the other I’d have concerns that in time we’d start to copy England’s very liberal model. I wouldn’t be judgemental whether people want to vote Yes or No.’