Harris challenged to debate on Eighth

HEALTH Minister Simon Harris has been challenged to a debate on the abortion referendum by a prolife campaign group.

The LoveBoth campaign yesterday held a press conference in Dublin where spokeswoman Sinéad Slattery called on Mr Harris to debate with them on ‘his proposal and the issue in general, including alternatives to abortion’.

Ms Slattery said the invitation was being offered to the Health Minister ‘in return’ after he ‘challenged the pro-life movement on how we can justify the status quo and keeping the Eighth Amendment’.

She added: ‘There is nothing radical or progressive about taking away the right to life.’

Her comments come after male members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, who are in favour of a Yes vote to repeal the Eighth Amendment on May 25, canvassed voters at the St Stephen’s Green Luas stop in Dublin early yesterday morning.

Mr Harris was joined by his Cabinet colleagues, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan and Education Minister Richard Bruton. Also present was Junior Minister for Mental Health Jim Daly, and senators Neale Richmond, Martin Conway and Jerry Buttimer.

Mr Murphy said the electorate has a ‘responsibility to get informed’.

While Mr Daly asked: ‘If this was my daughter who had a crisis pregnancy, what would I want for her? Would I want her to have the ability to be able to obtain a termination here, or have to go under a cloud of darkness and fear and guilt abroad to deal with it?’