It’s time to move away from a cold, uncaring and neglectful Ireland
Harris’ passionate plea on Bill to repeal eighth amendment
DAIL YESTERDAY
Simon Harris SIMON Harris yesterday said he wants to move away from a “cold, uncaring, neglectful Ireland” by introducing reform in abortion legislation.
The Health Minister pleaded with the Dail to let the public have a referendum and decide future laws on terminations.
In a landmark speech he said he was asking for support for his Bill to repeal the Eighth Amendment.
Mr Harris added he “could not live with and could not ignore” the standing abortion laws he sees as unacceptable for women and society.
All of the main opposition parties are backing the introduction of a Bill to repeal the Eighth.
The key provision in the law will allow for abortions without restriction up to 12 weeks. Fianna Fail’s Billy Kelleher said women are “being treated as second-class citizens” because of our laws on terminations.
Sinn Fein President Mary Lou Mcdonald also backed the Government and hit out at critics of proposed change, adding: “Scaremongers, shame on you.”
Opposition to the proposal in the Dail was limited, with Independent TD Mattie Mcgrath the most vocal.
He believes the referendum should be scrapped because it would be “inherently unworkable” . Mr Mcgrath claimed a survey showed 70% of GPS oppose the law.
In the debate’s opening speech, Mr Harris said he was thinking of those who had suffered problem pregnancies over the years.
He added: “I am mindful of the women whose most painful, most personal stories we know because it forced them to court or to other countries.
“We think of the women who now face these crises alone and unsafe with pills purchased online rather than with the safe medical care they need.”
TRAUMATISED
We as a society must ensure there are no more traumatised women
MARY LOU MCDONALD
Ms Mcdonald also delivered another impassioned speech.
She said: “We as a society must demand and ensure there are no more hard cases, no more Savita’s and no more traumatised women known to us in the public domain as letters of the alphabet.
“That is our first duty, to assert clearly that the State will not force a rape victim to carry a pregnancy to term.
“To demand women and families faced with the devastating diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality are no longer denied care, comfort and choice here in their home country.”
The (Catholic) Bishops of Ireland released a statement arguing for retention of the Eighth.
They said: “The deletion or amendment of Article 40.3.3, would serve no purpose other than to withdraw the right to life from some categories of unborn children.”