Tag Archives: European Elections 2014

10325410_697850563605063_609208816822705967_n  European Election candidate for Ireland South, Diarmuid O’Flynn (centre)

In response to questions posed by the Life Institute on the issue of abortion, we asked European election candidate for Ireland South, Diarmuid O’Flynn (61) if the quotes attributed to him were correct.

The questions and his replies were as follows:

1. Do you support the repeal of the legislation which permits abortion on suicide grounds, and support making Ireland a place where unborn children are legally protected and mothers get all necessary life-saving treatment in pregnancy?

2. Will you oppose measures in the European Parliament which seek to liberalise Ireland’s abortion laws and support pro-life measures such as the One of Us campaign?

“On a purely personal level I disagree with that particular legislation and the suicide clause but as stated in the original mail, it is not a European issue, it is a national issue.

The second, absolutely I would oppose any such measures. There are some questions that are for a nation to decide for itself; this is one.”

 

He subsequently followed up with a blogpost this morning on the subject:

Abortion

The ugliest word in the dictionary…The only occasion on which I can foresee abortion arising in the EU is as an equal rights/civil right issue. I would vigorously oppose any such imposition on Ireland. Abortion is an area in which we should remain sovereign; this is an issue for Ireland to decide, on its own.

There is life in a foetus, helpless life that needs nourishing and protection. Everything possible should be done to bring that life to the birth stage.

I believe in the equal right to life of the mother and child. If there is a threat to the life of the mother there should be timely medical intervention to save her life. Every effort should also be made to save the life of the child; if this fails, it fails.

I can see why many people believe that such a threat to a mother’s life should include suicide. I don’t agree. I believe this then makes the life of the unborn foetus subservient to the life of the mother.

Even for the most stable, mentally strong woman, abortion is surely a highly emotive decision. A suicidal prospective mother is already suffering serious emotional stress. An abortion will add to that stress.

It’s a lose/lose scenario, a most divisive argument and for very obvious reasons. But there it is. I know that in a situation where I’m going to need every vote I can get this will cost me but given that I’m coming out of nowhere I believe it’s only right people should know who I am.

Pic: Ballyhea Says No (Facebook)

jillian

Jillian Godsil writes:

Please consider sharing my online poster for Europe. I think I am the only European candidate to eschew the ghastly poster blight. If people want to look at my face – they can do so on my online poster. It’s called permission based postering!

Only recycled electrons were used in the making of this video.

Fair play though in fairness.

jilliangodsil.com

Meanwhile…

00146640Simon Harris TD

European Election candidate for Ireland South Simon Harris TD appeared on Newstalk Breakfast earlier with Grace O’Sullivan (Green) and Diarmuid O’Flynn (Independent). The discussion turned to water charges:

Chris Donoghue: “Simon Harris, you are in a government which is about to deliver a new bill to us. Your coalition, your cabinet colleagues, they can’t make a decision to save their lives. They’ve procrastinated for three weeks. You must be getting chased off…on water charges, you must be getting chased off doorsteps with a brush.”

Simon Harris: “No. I’m not. Though Grace seemed to be getting it a way nicer than I did. But ah no what I am hearing is Chris that in relation to the water charges and in relation to other issues is that there is a sense out there that the same people are being hit again and again and what I was extremely worried about over the weekend and what I’m still worried about until we see the detail of these water charges is this mentality that seems to exist in some parts of Irish politics and society that the vulnerable only consists of people without a job. There’s an awful lot of people that I’m meeting who are low or middle-income. I’ve visited factory floors and they’re telling me that it’s not worth their while working an extra hour of overtime. Yes, the government has to do something on that. Yes, the government has to do something on that.”

Shane Coleman: “You’re having a pop at Labour there.”

Harris: “What exactly the point I’m making is that if we’re going to start introducing exemptions and allowances, we need to realise that introducing a blanket exemption for people on social welfare whilst passing on that charge to people getting up in the morning and going out to work and earning little money but doing their best to keep a roof above their head is not on. We keep on hitting the same group of people..

Coleman: “And the Labour party was effectively trying to do that by getting a general exemption scheme.”

Harris: “So I read, but I’m not privy to the detail at cabinet. What I want to see come out of today is that the issue of water charges is that those that get out of bed and work in the morning aren’t being penalised for doing so.

Coleman: “Are you concerned as you you’ve read at what’s likely to happen? Are you concerned about the proposals as they stand at the moment?”

Harris: “I’m encouraged to see that it doesn’t look like what I read that we’re going to offer a blanket em..a blanket exemption from water charges based on being on social welfare. There are some people and particularly may I say and I’ve met these people with disability, medical needs, older people, that use extra water. We’ve got to deal with that very compassionately in relation to water charges and I’m encouraged to see that. But I’m talking about there isn’t often a big financial difference between the person going out to work in a low or middle-income job and the person who doesn’t have a job and you can’t just keep on passing on all the charges just to the people who are working.”

Listen back here (scroll to the 29 minute mark)

Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland