Pro-Life group disappointed at poor response to questionnaire

THE MALLOW Pro-Life group has expressed its disappointment at the poor response to a questionnaire it issued to local and European election candidates.

Group spokesman Donal Nunan said the 12 question survey was emailed to seven candidates in the Kanurk-Mallow area and eight Euro hopefuls.

“The questions were designed to find out the degree to which candidates personally supported pro-life and traditional family values and to compare the results,” said Mr Nunan.

“Disappointingly, only one of the local election candidates, Cllr Noel O'Connor, had responded at time of going to press,” he added.

Mr Nunan said that only two of the European candidates, sitting MEPs Brian Crowley and Sean Kelly, had replied to his email.

“Both declined to respond to the questionnaire, pointing instead to their voting record. However, not many people in Ireland are familiar with what happens in the European Parliament,” he said. Despite what he described as the “general unwillingness” of candidates to participate in the survey, Mr Nunan said he still felt it was a useful and worthwhile exercise.

“It has drawn candidates’ attention to the fact that many voters are concerned at recent alarming trends in State policies that are anti-life, anti-natural family and prioritise the needs of adults over those of children,” said Mr Nunan.