Sinn Fein suspends abortion vote rebel for 6mths
toibin decision ‘serious breach of party rules’
SINN Fein’s Peadar Toibin has been suspended from the party for six months for voting against abortion legislation.
The Meath West TD actively campaigned for a No vote during the referendum on the Eighth Amendment, even though his party was in the opposite camp.
He was also suspended for six months in 2013 after voting against the Protection Of Life During Pregnancy Bill.
Mr Toibin said he was told by Sinn Fein if he stood as an independent in the next election there would be “no way back” for him into the party.
He told RTE’S News At One yesterday: “The issue is obviously a very contentious issue, there isn’t a family in the country probably where everybody is exactly on the same page on it. I couldn’t in good conscience vote for the Bill itself.
“I believe TDS are responsible for the votes they carry out in the Dail and the outcome of those votes. And also, there’s 34% of the population who voted to retain the Eighth Amendment and about 20% of the Yes voters who don’t agree with this particular Bill.
“It is a democratic norm internationally this isn’t a whipped issue. Indeed, East Germany in its whole existence only had one vote where there wasn’t a whip on an issue and it was on the issue of abortion.
“My view is Meath needs strong representation and also, for economic justice and Irish unity, we need strong representation, and I’m hoping to see is there a possibility I can play a full role within Sinn Fein in the future.”
The party’s whip in the Dail, Aengus O Snodaigh, said: “The Health [Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy] Bill 2018 is in line with Sinn Fein’s policy position as agreed democratically at our Ard Fheis.
“The whip was in place and all TDS were instructed to be present and to vote for the legislation.
“Peadar Toibin’s decision to vote against the legislation is a serious breach of the party’s rules and he has now been suspended for a period of six months.”
The axing of the Eighth Amendment removed the provision which gave unborn children an equal right to life as their mothers.
I’m hoping I can play a full role within Sinn Fein in the future PEADAR toibin YESTERDAY
SINN Fein is already battling bullying and intimidation claims within its ranks.
Now it has kicked out one of its own TDS for having an opinion.
It was a decision Meath deputy Peadar Toibin was expecting, having failed to back the party’s stance on removing the Eighth Amendment because of his pro-life stance.
He makes the point that even in the old East Germany, the whip system was dispensed with when it came to the abortion issue.
Sinn Fein may make the point the rules are there for a reason. But booting out an elected TD for half a year on a matter of conscience looks, and sounds, preposterous.