Over To You Labour

at

00139971

Clare Daly TD at a ProChoice protest in 2013

In advance of today’s Dáil vote on Clare Daly’s bill to allow abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities….

That’s why, if I were a member of the Dáil, and irrespective of what a party whip might say, I’d vote for Clare Daly’s bill to allow a mother to choose a termination in the case of a fatal-foetal abnormality. I don’t buy the argument that it’s necessarily unconstitutional — any reading of the amendment itself, not to mention judgements such as the X case, show that to be highly questionable.
But we’re a humane people, when all is said and done. Humane people don’t turn a blind eye to human tragedy.
It has placed generations of women in jeopardy. And it hasn’t addressed the issue of abortion

Two disastrous policy decisions, both of them born of ignorance (Fergus Finlay, IrishExaminer.ie)

There will never be a good time to address Ireland’s abortion quagmire, but Labour TDs have the opportunity today to support legislation that could at least ameliorate some of the trauma faced by women and their families when they are told their unborn children are incompatible with life.

The Labour Party has in the past been an important voice when it comes to supporting women and their right to access abortion services. It will be a sad day if it decides to prioritise petty political concerns over this proud history.

Labour TDs need to vote with their conscience on Daly’s abortion bill (Collette Browne, Independent.ie)

(Laura Hutton/Photocall ireland)

Sponsored Link

27 thoughts on “Over To You Labour

  1. ollie

    fg reckon this legislation is unconstitutional yet they refuse to publish correspondence from attorney general. lilly livered bunch of spineless catholic church ass kissing fools!

    1. Stephanenny

      What amazes me is that they’ll defend most legislation to the death. Any time someone brings a case to the courts over whether or not legislation is constitutional they defend it to the back teeth. We’ve had parents of children with disabilities spending thousands on high court cases because their children have no access to education and the state defends these cases for feck sake. Why can’t they bring in the legislation then defend it in court if someone brings a challenge? They’re doing that with the protection of life during pregnancy act already.

    2. scottser

      i am invoking the ‘legal coffee drinker’ clause. if lcd says it’s constitutional, then that should be good enough for everyone.

  2. bisted

    ‘…It will be a sad day if it decides to prioritise petty political concerns over this proud history.’ – Good man Fergus…still hoping to bouy up the sinking ship. Bye Bye Labour.

  3. Soundings

    Even if 10 Labour TDs vote “with their consciences”, the Bill will be terminated today. Every FGer will vote against the Bill (of course making the appropriate sympathetic noises peppered with “unconstitutional”, “well-intentioned”, “tragic”, “advice from the Attorney General”) and only a handful of Labour TDs are outlying enough to rebel and vote in favour of the Bill.

    The Bill will be defeated by 100-60.

    It’s a non-story.

      1. Soundings

        The outcome of the vote is a foregone conclusion, the Bill will be terminated today because of the huge government majority and the very few government TDs who will rebel against their party’s whip.

        1. Small Wonder

          That doesn’t make it a non-story. It’s still a huge deal to a lot of people, and the fact that our politicians refuse to acknowledge that is actually quite a big story

  4. gorugeen

    “There’s nothing kind about mankind”. Tom Waits. Certainly not in this sorry, backwards corner of the world.

    1. Lorcan Nagle

      Because nominally, Labour are meant to be a left-wing party? That they’ve presided over policies and initiatives aimed at closing the gender gap?

      FG not supporting this is expected. Labour not supporting this is disappointing.

  5. Bejayziz

    Why are ballots not secret in Dail votes so MP’s can vote against the party line and along their own line

    1. tucker

      I don’t believe in secret votes. TDs should be allowed a free vote, and constituents should know the actual sentiments and intentions of the lily-livered cowards they have voted in.

  6. Shockabilly

    Would the Pro Life lobby actively oppose this type of bill I wonder? Not being facetious, I genuinely am curious. It would horrify me to think that they would oppose it but I’m not naive enough to discount the possibility.

    1. Lorcan Nagle

      A Pro-lifer told me to my face that leglislating for fatal foetal abnormality was “a silly thing”

      Another told me that the child should be allowed live for as long as possible. When I asked “what about the mother?” she replied “What about her?”

  7. Denis Murphy

    Anything this government say’s now I wouldent believe, those liars Have been so cowardly looking down on the people that voted them into power, I cant wait to vote them out, Bunch of wasters

  8. Jane

    I am a voter. Anyone who votes agaisnt this legislation needn’t come looking for a preference from me. It’s not only elderly bigots who fill out ballot papers.

Comments are closed.

Sponsored Link
Broadsheet.ie