Martin: Coveney has obligation to outline alternative abortion plan
TÁNAISTE Simon Coveney should outline his own proposals for what Ireland’s abortion regime would look like if the Eighth Amendment is repealed, the leader of Fianna Fáil has said.
Micheál Martin has piled pressure on his constituency rival to give clarity around his statement that he may attempt to alter the legislation allowing for abortion up to 12 weeks.
The Cork TD said Health Minister Simon Harris has been “very clear” that he wants to stick closely to the recommendations of the all-party Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment – but the Tánaiste “seems to be suggesting that would only be the starting position”.
Mr Coveney favours removing the equal rights given to a mother and her unborn child in the Constitution, but wants abortions to remain limited.
He has proposed that a single GP should be in a position to help a woman procure a termination if she became pregnant as a result of rape.
But Mr Martin told RTÉ’s ‘This Week’ this idea has already been rejected by experts who say “it’s not possible or not tenable that GPs could be put in such a position”.
“If people are suggesting there’s an alternative to the Oireachtas committee’s recommendations then I think there’s an obligation to publish that alternative, to formulate it precisely and clearly. So that there would be clarity about what people are saying,” he said.
He criticised what he described as people “just articulating a view or some vague idea” of what would replace the Eighth Amendment.
Asked whether he would expect all Fianna Fáil TDs to back abortion legislation if the referendum passes, Mr Martin said the issue would remain one of individual conscience.
Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone, who is one of the biggest advocates for reform, yesterday defended her Cabinet colleague.
“Obviously he has been developing his views in relation to what kind of legislation ought to replace that.
“I’m not in agreement with the approach he has taken. I don’t think that’s any big surprise,” she said.
“At the same time I think it is really great that the Tánaiste, and I’ve also asked all of our other ministers out there, are outlining what are their views and what their rationale is in relation to that.”
Ms Zappone insisted the line being taken by the Tánaiste did not pose a problem for the Government.
“I don’t think so at all. I mean first of all the Tánaiste is absolutely in favour of repeal.
“I think that he’s really listened to experiences of women and knows that we do not need that amendment within the Constitution, that women will continue to suffer as a result of that.
“And he’s been very strong in relation to that.”
Meanwhile, the Green Party has lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland over a billboard campaign by the ‘Save The 8th’ campaign.
Cllr Ciarán Cuffe has complained that an advertisement linked to the group should be dropped because it is misleading.
“It is regrettable that these billboards state that ‘In Britain “Limited” Abortion kills 1 in 5 Babies’, which is clearly an untruthful message,” he said.
A spokesperson for ‘Save The 8th’ said this was an attempt at censorship and “shameful”.