A RESOUNDING YES
PROPOSED LEGISLATION WILL BE BACKED BY SLIGO’S TDS
As the Government moves to legislate for abortion in the coming weeks, the constituency’s TDs have stated they will support it, backing the will of the people who gave a resounding Yes to removing the Eighth Amendment last Friday.
Sligo/Leitrim returned a Yes vote of 59.38 per cent with 40.62 per cent voting against. Turnout in the constituency which includes parts of South Donegal and West Cavan was 61 per cent. The electorate was 95,954 and the total poll figure was 58,604. The number of spoiled votes was 189. The total valid poll was 58,415. A total of 34,685 voted Yes and the number of No voters was 23,730. As thoughts now move towards legislating for abortion in accordance to the wishes of the people, all of the constituency’s TDs have said they will support the forthcoming legislation.
Deputy Marc MacSharry (FF) whose leader Micheal Martin backed the Yes side said: “The people have spoken and the outcome is clear. I fully respect that. It has always been a personal matter for me but one I was happy to state publicly given my position as a TD. I did not take a profile position throughout the campaign as I believe protagonists from civil society on both sides were those best to promote the key issues. I congratulate the many volunteers from both sides for their efforts over the last number of months.
“My responsibility is now to ensure that the legislation which follows adequately provides for woman and families in line with the will of the people.” Party colleague Deputy Eamon Scanlon said the result wasn’t what he had hoped for but said the people had spoken and he respected their decision.
“I’ ll have to look at the legislation that will be brought forward and just move on with it and hope for the best possible outcome,” he said, adding that he would be supportive of the Act in line with people’s wishes.
Deputy Tony McLoughlin of Fine Gael said he would be supporting his party’s legislation in the matter.
“The people have spoken very clearly abut what they want and I’ ll be supporting the legislation when it is brought forward. Initially I did have reservations surrounding the abortion up to 12 weeks but there is now a very strong mandate received by the Government who will be proceeding straight away on the issue,” he said.
Sinn Féin TD, Martin was already on the record as being in favour of repealing the the Eighth Amendment.
“The intention of most Oireachtas members is that there will be legislation enacted to provide for the option of terminations in specific crisis situations and to regulate and minimise the use of the abortion pill during the first 12 weeks to protect women’s health.”