Tom Curran, husband of the late right-to-die campaigner Marie Fleming, asking a question at the Tonight With Vincent Browne debate in Wicklow
The People’s Debate with Vincent Browne is touring the country, holding debates in Ireland’s 40 constituencies and, last night, the Wicklow debate, which involved Independent TDs Stephen Donnelly and Billy Timmins, was broadcast.
Mr Timmins lost his Fine Gael parliamentary party whip, along with Lucinda Creighton and others, after he voted against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013.
He has yet to say whether he will be joining Ms Creighton in her new party.
At the end of last night’s debate, Vincent took questions – or ‘rants’ as he called them – from members of the audience.
Tom Curran, whose wife Marie Fleming passed away in December 2013 after her unsuccessful right-to-die challenge in Supreme Court in April 2013, asked a question.
Tom Curran: “[This is] not a rant, it’s a very simple question for the two…”
Vincent Browne: “Give your name and affiliation.”
Curran: “Tom Curran, I am the partner of the late Marie Fleming and I’m a healthcare activist. During the court case, the historic court case that Marie took to the Supreme Court, in the judgement in that case, the Chief Justice made it clear that the Oireachtas had the power to bring in legislation to effect assisted dying. The last poll that was taken on this issue, in fact was done by TV3 and 80% of the people that were polled was in favour of assisted dying for the terminally ill which, to me, is a mandate. I’ve been working for the last 18 months with four barristers and a number of healthcare professionals on drafting a Bill. That Bill will be presented in the Dáil in the near future – will the two deputies support it? And will you, representing the Government, give your view on what the Government parties will do?”
Stephen Donnelly: “Vincent.”
Vincent Browne: “OK, very briefly, very briefly.”
Donnelly: “The very brief answer is, Tom, yes. When it happened I raised it directly with the Taoiseach in the chamber and not only will I be voting for your Bill but I will be supporting it wholeheartedly.”
Browne: “Billy.”
Billy Timmins: “The answer I’d like, I’m not sure, I honestly really don’t know, Tom. I know your difficult circumstances and difficult situation and one can certainly understand the difficulties that are there. I would actually, it’s an issue I, I’m open on and I’ve an open mind on it. And it’s not a case of being afraid of coming down on one side or the other, it’s something I really need to look at, look at the content, the contents and the context of the Bill and illicit other views on it but I will come back to you and tell you certainly before the Bill actually comes into the Dáil what my position is going to be.”
Watch back here – go to 1.19.34
Oh Señor Billy, you should consider growing a pair of cojones, you are a bad liar…
I think it is stranger that Mr Donnelly committed to voting for a Bill before reading it.
It was somewhat a shock to see how abrupt Vincent was with a lot of the members of the left last night. Councillor Pat Kavanagh had a great point on not paying back the ECB was cut short by a f*<kin ad break. Nothing Billy Timmins said was of any substance, he'll come back to him on it? Is that once he knows what answer will give him the most votes?
I think you already know the answer to that question, Fluffy!
:D
It’s difficult to know whether Timmins was being deliberately vague to avoid nailing his colours to the mast and possibly impacting on his vote count at the next election, or he genuinely doesn’t have a view one way or the other because he’s a complete fupping idiot who lives under a rock. Neither option is acceptable for a legislator.
got his aul fellas dail seat after he retired, no political achievements, draws an army pension, no idiot just your run of the mill fine gael lackey.
…watched most of this last night and there were some good moments – especially FFer saying that the Government were nearly as bad as FF…but 40 constituencies…don’t think even Vincent will go the distance.
It was funny watching him doing devil’s advocate for Labour and FG.
Didn’t see it but from reading that, it’s a politician who doesn’t have an opinion on the matter and isn’t going to put his foot ni his mouth saying the wrong thing without really thinking about it.
nothing wrong with that?
You support flip flopping on issues?
You have to take a position and then switch to a contradictory one to be flip-flopping.
He’s sitting on the fence until he reads it.
I’m not buying it. Timmins is an outright social conservative and while he might trot out soothing platitudes, it is doubtful that he would support any law, no matter how restrictive, permitting those with terminal illnesses to end their own lives.
He is entitled to hold this view but now, like the rest of the so-called “reform” brethren, Lucinda’s edict of window-dressing (generally religious-based) social conservatism as “conscience” voting has taken hold. Of course all this lot are on the same page as regards social issues bar the odd social liberal stooge Lucinda might attract but rather than explicitly express that which binds them, deception and semantics are now their modus operandi as regards important social questions. All of this is simply empty and hollow adherence to the principle of conscience voting as a smokescreen to veil their acute social conservatism from the electorate. It is simply an obvious PR stunt to try and attract voters outside of the core single-issue “pro-life” brigade, their most steadfast supporters by the use of flimflam and hollow soundbites.
One should also treat Billy’s “haven’t made his mind up” as regards Lucinda with a pinch of salt.
The show last night was a looney fest. Your wan from People before Profit saying that we should get rid of Google and start up our own Google was the best of the loonies.
the people’s google? poople? count me in!
I think that pretty much answers what anyone needs ta’know about Billy Timmons
They should have told Tom Curran to f*pp off. Such a moaner.