The Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 was debated in Dáil Eireann at second stage on 11th July 2023. The Bill, if passed, would criminalise pro-life advocates assembling within 100 metres of every hospital and healthcare provider in the country.
The contents of the government’s exclusion zone legislation makes it clear they are not intended to deal with cases of harassment, which are already crimes under existing legislation. Special legislation which singles out a single ethical worldview (the pro-life viewpoint) as criminal is inherently discriminatory.
Exclusion zones are designated within 100 metres of every GP clinic and hospital in the country and therefore covering great swathes of territory. If passed, it would be illegal to even express a pro-life opinion in a conversation as it could be inferred as influencing a woman’s decision on whether to have an abortion.
At present, the government is failing to provide women in unplanned pregnancies with any serious life-line or supports. Instead, many thousands of women in unplanned pregnancy feel pressured because of socio-economic factors into having an abortion. This law, if passed, would rule out the possibility that a woman could ever avail of optional information on positive alternatives to abortion for example information on parenting or financial supports at the time when she may need it most. Criminalising someone who simply wishes to stand peacefully in a public place outside a hospital or near a GP clinic and threatening them with up to six months imprisonment is entirely disproportionate.
This legislation would forever criminalise the possibility of women receiving optional support and information and would target one group of citizens in a draconian and wholly disproportionate way.”
During the debate, Deputy Seán Canney explained that:
“The activities specified in this Bill that would be illegal within the exclusion zones are already offences. Blocking access to a healthcare premises is already a crime under section 9 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. Intimidating or harassing any service provider or a person attempting to access the service of a healthcare provider is already illegal under sections 8 and 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.”
Deputy Peadar Tóibín said:
“We are not talking about banning freedoms in small area. Dublin has dozens if not hundreds of these types of locations and 100 m zones would literally seal off significant sections of city from conversations - maybe one sister banned from having a conversation with another sister because of this law.”
TDs who spoke against the Bill were Éamon Ó Cuív, Peadar Tóibín, Peter Fitzpatrick, Carol Nolan, Mattie McGrath, Michael Collins, Sean Canney, Danny Healy-Rae and Michael Healy Rae
Watch short clips from speeches of TDs who spoke up in the Dáil for the right-to-life and freedom of assembly here.
While the government’s Exclusion Zones Bill was debated in the Dáil, on Wednesday Senator Sharon Keogan also raised an order of business item in the Seanad in which she quoted a statement made by Minister Donnelly in February 2022 which heavily criticised a previous private members’ bill on Exclusion Zones introduced by Sinn Féin Senator Paul Gavan.
At the time, Minister Donnelly argued that the Bill had “a very broad definition” as it would cover “GPs, family planning clinics, primary healthcare centres and hospitals” among other locations. He explained that “given the number of such premises in any given town or city, the application of a 100-metre zone would have a serious impact on the ability of anyone to hold a protest for or against termination of pregnancy in any location without the risk of inadvertently committing an offence.”
Senator Keogan incisively noted that “two years on, the Minister's own Bill now does precisely what he warned against.” She continued, “Indeed, it is so broad that it criminalises the expression of views that are merely likely to influence someone's decision to have an abortion.”
During the Dáil debate, many TDs (see video in story above) also raised the problems associated with the expansive definitions contained in Donnelly’s Bill which criminalises pro-life speech in massive areas across Ireland.
All the politicians who spoke up against this draconian legislation deserve our praise and support.
Thanks to all those who attended our recent workshops on effectively engaging with politicians. We are very encouraged with the number of people who are actively engaged and interested in meeting their politicians with their concerns around the extreme recommendations contained in the recent Abortion Review Report and the recent Second Reading vote in favour of the People Before Profit Private Members Bill calling for more abortion.
Summer 2023 is a really important time for us to engage with our politicians and remind them that the referendum promises of ‘rare’ abortions must not be forgotten.
Please take a moment to get involved in this Humanity Campaign over the coming weeks by signing up to meet your politician, sending an instant email to your politicians or registering for the next lobbying workshop here
Remember even the smallest effort will make a big difference.
The legislature in the American state of Iowa has passed a Heartbeat Bill which would have the effect of reducing the threshold for an abortion from 20 weeks of pregnancy to 6 weeks.
The state senate agreed the Bill in a 32-17 vote, with the state house voting 56-34 in favour of the Bill. The Bill will now go before the state governor, Kim Reynolds (Republican), to sign. She supported the Bill and tweeted in the aftermath of its passage: “The voices of the unborn and their elected representatives will not be silenced any longer! Congrats to the Iowa House and Senate!”
Governor Reynolds had previously signed a Heartbeat Bill into law in 2018, which was unfortunately struck down in the courts in early 2019. However, the overturn of Roe v Wade in June 2022 signalled the ability for a new similar law to be passed.
The Heartbeat Bill initiative in Iowa has been widely praised across the pro-life movement in the United States. Well done to Iowans for taking this great step forward in the protection of human life.
The seventh annual Ceiliúradh Cois Life Dinner for Pro-Life Education will take place in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 4 on Saturday, September 9th 2023 at 7:00pm.
Join us for an evening of celebration, live music, great company and dancing! Not only will this event be an opportunity to introduce more people to the pro-life cause, but it’s also a fantastic occasion to reunite with friends and fellow volunteers.
Our guest speaker this year is Lord David Alton. A leading human rights defender, David Alton has been a consistent voice for the oppressed and marginalised since he began his political career in Britain in 1979. First elected as a Liberal MP for a Liverpool constituency, he now sits as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords. And as always, this event is supported by our own Senator Rónán Mullen.
It is sure to be an uplifting and enjoyable evening and the proceeds of the dinner will ensure that the vital education and support work of the Pro Life Campaign can continue — including running educational programmes for young people in the pro-life movement on college campuses and through the Future Leaders Programme and assisting new mothers and those with unplanned pregnancy with practical items and support.
The price of a table of ten is €1,500. Individual tickets are €150 each. If you would like to join us on the evening, you can purchase your ticket(s) instantly below. Please note if you wish to reserve tickets/a table and pay later or use a form of payment other than credit card payment, please email [email protected]
Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you there!
We are delighted to announce a really exciting and fun upcoming event specifically designed for young people interested in the pro life cause. This programme is tailored towards 18 to 26 year olds who are interested in having a fun week during the summer, meeting other pro life young people and participating in some life affirming outreach activities.
This outreach programme brings young pro-lifers together from across the country for a week starting Monday 24th July and finishing on Sunday 30th July.
The tour will be travelling through a number of towns and villages, hosting meetings, participating in the LoveBoth 5K Your Way to raise money for mothers in need along with meeting local pro-life advocates. There will also be fun entertainment activities provided.
Drivers, Accommodation and food providers needed - Can you help?
We are looking for help with providing accommodation, meals and transport in Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Sligo, and Mayo during the tour. If you are in a position to help with any of these things, please contact us here and we will be in touch.
We are putting out a call for anyone in possession of any documents, photographs, correspondence, etc. relevant to the Irish pro-life movement throughout the decades. We are particularly keen to receive anything in your possession related to periods such as the 1983 referendum. A comprehensive history of the pro-life movement is yet to be written, but the historians of the future will need primary sources. We are asking for people to get in touch with the Pro Life Campaign if they possess such material (no matter how old or dusty!) to ensure it is preserved now and not lost to the ages.
Vital Signs is the e-newsletter of the Pro Life Campaign. We hope you and your families are keeping well in these unusual times. This email is to update you on what we have been working on recently, including news stories, project updates, and details of upcoming events. If you want to get in touch with us please do so by emailing [email protected]
