‘I’ve been pregnant – our ministers haven’t had that experience’
‘This is a rising against the elites’
A PRO-LIFE campaigner has taken a swipe at ministers who don’t have children campaigning for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, saying they lack experience in the area of pregnancy.
Eimear Thornton cited Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone and Health Minister Simon Harris at the launch of the ‘Save the Eighth’ campaign yesterday, pointing out that they have less experience of pregnancy than herself as she is a mother.
She told the audience: ‘As a mother of four very young children, I have had four experiences of being pregnant with a baby. And I, therefore, have far more experience in the area of pregnancy than Katherine Zappone, Leo Varadkar….’
After loud applause, she added: ‘...and not forgetting Simon Harris and all the rest… together.’
When asked to clarify her comments yesterday evening, a spokesman for the campaign said Ms Thornton ‘mentioned the three members of the Cabinet most responsible for the abortion Bill: Minister Zappone, Minister Harris, and Mr Varadkar. Her comment that she has had more children, and more experience of pregnancy than any of them is accurate’.
Senator Catherine Noone, who chaired the all-party Oireachtas Committee on abortion and is pro-choice said these remarks from the campaigner don’t do her ‘side of the argument any favours, using comments that are so personal and offensive’.
During the British Conservative Party leadership race in the UK in 2016, candidate Andrea Leadsom suggested she would be better suited to being the party leader than Theresa May as Mrs May does not have children. This was branded as being ‘vile’ and ‘wrong’. Mrs May won the contest.
Save the Eighth is encouraging the 3.2million eligible Irish voters to vote against repealing the Eighth Amendment on May 25. A Yes vote would allow the Government to put forward legislation that would allow for terminations up to 12-weeks’ gestation.
The campaign launch heard claims that one-in-five pregnancies could be terminated in Ireland next year if this legislation passes the Oireachtas.
Caoimhe Lynch, from Killarney in Co. Kerry, said her mother became pregnant as a 23-yearold nursing student.
Ms Lynch, 20, told the crowd: ‘It was suggested to her that she should have an abortion. Now imagine. Imagine if she had gone to England for that abortion.’ To loud applause, the NUI Galway arts student said: ‘I wouldn’t be able to experience all the amazing things life has offered me.’
Campaign leader Niamh Uí Bhriain said: ‘This is a rising of the people against the elites, and on May 25, it’s time to join a rebellion, and to reject both abortion on demand and the untrustworthy political class that wants to repeal the right to life of children before birth.’
Dr John Monaghan from Portiuncula Hospital told those present that he had delivered between 4,000 and 5,000 babies during his career. ‘Not on one occasion was I prevented from protecting a woman’s life because of the Eighth Amendment.’
Dr Monaghan said Ireland was a ‘remarkably safe place’ to be pregnant, adding: ‘It is a very simple observation that if the Eighth Amendment was dramatically risking the health of women, this would not be the case. The figures don’t add up.’
Campaign communications director John McGuirk described it as ‘undoubtedly a tight race’ but said he is confident from feedback on the doorsteps that a No vote can prevail.
He said a significant amount of their €400,000 budget will be spent on online campaigning.
Comment – Page 14 emmajane.hade@dailymail.ie