Read more and get involved!💪

13th October 2023
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In this Issue...

REGISTER: IT'S TOMORROW!! Register for PLC National Conference 2023! (#PLCNC)

READ: (#hhh) Budget 2024 leaves a lot to be desired for women facing unplanned pregnancies (#hhh)

READ: Elma Walsh of the Donal Walsh #LiveLife Foundation appears before euthanasia committee (#hh)

READ: 87 million views for little preemie stretching out his hand (#2)

REGISTER NOW: Communicating the Pro-Life Message with The Minimise Project, Wednesday, October 18th from 8PM

ACTION: Can you Donate an Auction Item to this year's Event? (#auction)

ACTION: Get involved in the Humanity Campaign – Communicate with your politicians (#Humanity) today (#Humanity)

ACTION (#history) : Do you have pro-life material which could be historically relevant? (#history)
IT'S TOMORROW!! Register for PLC National Conference 2023! (http://)
Register Now! ([link removed])
Our annual National Conference this year will take place on Saturday, 14th October 2023 in the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin 4.

The main theme of the conference is 'Growing the Pro-Life vote, Bringing about change at election time' and underlines our focus on getting more public representatives elected who will speak up courageously for human rights, for the right to life of unborn children and for care and support for women in unplanned pregnancy.

The keynote speaker for the National Conference is Obianuju Ekeocha.

Speakers include:

Dr. Andrew O’Regan
Senior Lecturer in General Practice at the University of Limerick, School of Medicine and works as a GP in Killarney Co. Kerry.

Cllr. Deirdre Donnelly is an Independent Councillor for the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area.

Jordan Brittain is Pacific Southwest Regional Coordinator for Students for Life of America, organising pro-life students across 13 US States.

Luke Silke is a Local Election Candidate and Dáil Assistant, as well as a passionate Advocate for the pro-life cause.

We will also have the following Workshops from 11am:
* Social Media
* Students for Life
* Medical
* Political Engagement
* Grassroots Action
* Support of Mothers and Babies

Plus, information Stands featuring different pro-life initiatives, organisations, resources, leaflets, pregnancy support and more!

FREE childminding facility available on the day! Simply indicate your interest when filling in the registration form. (Limited availability and subject to pre-booking),

Seating for the event is limited - so don’t delay, register TODAY below to attend the conference next Saturday!
See you there!
Register Now! ([link removed])

Register Now! ([link removed])
Budget 2024 leaves a lot to be desired for women facing unplanned pregnancies (http://)

On Tuesday, the Budget was announced by Ministers Michael McGrath and Paschal Donohoe. As is the case every year, the highlights of the Budget have been widely covered in the national media.

The Pro Life Campaign’s Pre Budget Submission was submitted to all TDs and Senators. Several TDs shared specific recommendations with the relevant government ministers to ask that they review and incorporate such proposals.

The PLC noted that opinion polls show that Irish voters frequently rank the ongoing housing crisis as one of the most pressing issues that requires urgent attention and remedy. The impact this issue has had on young people has also been noted well in public commentary and public discourse. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae wrote to Minister Darragh O’Brien to inform him of the PLC’s proposal that the government should examine the feasibility of introducing a policy where families with at least three dependent children would be eligible for a subsidy grant towards the purchase or construction of a new home valued at approximately £25,000 to be reviewed annually and adjusted to account for inflation and other factors.

Recognising the socio-economic realities which underlie the huge abortion rate are necessary to proactively reduce the abortion rate. The PLC has advocated for social policy to be reorientated towards actively promoting a fairer society which removes socio-economic obstacles for families, parents, and women facing unplanned pregnancies.

Some steps have been made towards this in Budget 2024, and aspects of it should be welcomed as having a positive impact on children and families. This includes free schoolbooks to be introduced at Junior Cycle in secondary schools, the expansion of hot school meal programmes to a further 900 primary schools in April 2024, an increase in Parents’ Benefit from August 2024, an increase in Child Benefit payments and their extension to 18-year-olds in full-time education.

However, the Budget falls short of providing meaningful supports for women in unplanned pregnancies. The government has made its intentions clear that when it comes to unplanned pregnancies, their priority is ensuring ‘access’ to abortion whilst ‘other options’ are name-checked but not properly acted upon.

Other EU countries such as Hungary have successfully halved their annual abortion rate by introducing a comprehensive range of pro-family and pro-child social policies. This example should be studied and considered by the Irish government.
Elma Walsh of the Donal Walsh #LiveLife Foundation appears before euthanasia committee (http://)

Elma Walsh

The Joint Committee on Assisted Dying, which is evaluating whether to recommend the legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide, met on the morning of Tuesday 11th October to hear personal testimony from four witnesses. Three of the witnesses were advocates for euthanasia, whilst just one opposed the law outright.

Elma Walsh appeared on behalf of the Donal Walsh #LiveLife Foundation. Donal’s (1996-2013) story touched all of our hearts when he came to national prominence in 2013, speaking of his response to receiving a diagnosis of terminal cancer and also advocating a strongly anti-suicide message.

Speaking before the committee, Mrs Walsh said that palliative care should not be underestimated, as “this type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a terminal illness.” She continued:

“The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. That is what it did for Donal and for us in his final and most important challenge... I can honestly say that, with the help of palliative care, Donal died with dignity and got to complete most of what he wanted to do. I fear what this committee could set in motion because if it removes the present legal requirement that doctors do what they can to save lives, the value of life will be significantly reduced.”

Mrs Walsh also emphasised Donal’s commitment during his final months to “encouraging people to value life.” His anti-suicide message had a measurable impact, as the suicide rate noticeably decreased. The late Terence Casey, coroner in South Kerry until 2017, acknowledged Donal’s appeal as a factor in considerably reducing suicides in the county.
She pinpointed the “bizarre situation” which would arise if the legislation became law, whereby “Government will promote suicide prevention on the one hand, while offering it on the other.”

Elma Walsh’s powerful testimony made an impact on the committee members on the day. In 2015-16, the Donal Walsh #LiveLife Foundation donated €80,000 to Kerry Hospice and €40,000 to Milford Hospice.
87 million views for little preemie stretching out his hand (http://)
Thanks to the excellent medical care he received, he survived being born at such an early stage. Countless unborn babies at the exact same gestational stage of development have their lives ended in abortion in the most ghastly ways imaginable. Abortion performing doctors in Ireland have received training at taxpayers’ expense in how to carry out gruesome D&E late term abortions.💔 It is beautiful to see the outstretched hand of the baby in this video ([link removed]) trying to connect with the doctors who are taking care of him. Hopefully the experience reminded them of the humanity and inherent value of every baby in their care, regardless of whether they are wanted or unwanted, or are at the early or latter stages of development in the womb.

Once again, thanks to Live Action for posting the video.
REGISTER NOW: Communicating the Pro-Life Message with The Minimise Project, Wednesday, October 18th from 8PM (http://)
Register Now! ([link removed])
Can you Donate an Auction Item to this year's Event? (http://)
Our Annual Fundraising event for Pro-Life Education and Support Initiatives takes place on November 8 - 18th.

As we gear up for this exciting online auction in November (8-18th), we have a special request for you!

Can you contribute an auction item or raffle prize to make this event even more impactful?

Your generous donation could play a vital role in helping us provide much-needed support for our pro-life initiatives.

Here are some suggestion items we're seeking:
* Hotel/B&B breaks (including holiday home accommodation)
* Golf or other sports-type vouchers
* Food or drinks hampers
* Paintings
* Gift vouchers (e.g., restaurant, garden center, retail)
* Professional services

Have Questions?
Simple click on one of the contact options below to reach out to Síle, who will be happy to help!

[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
086 824 6507
Fill out the form here ([link removed])
Humanity Campaign - Action alert! (http://)
[link removed]
With the Oireachtas returning, it presents a perfect opportunity to approach your local TDs and Senators and urge them to reintroduce some humanity into the debate on abortion. The Three-Year Review, a seriously flawed process which produced a one-sided and extreme report, will be considered by politicians in the autumn. It’s important that we take action now.

We have produced a quick and easy Virtual Postcard for you to sign, which will automatically send an email to your local TDs. Use the button below to navigate into your county on our website and find your constituency.

It’s also important to have meetings with your TDs. These can be as simple as dropping into your local TD’s advice clinic to outline your concerns. Click below to register to lobby your local TDs. Don’t worry – we’ll help you every step of the way with advice on making the appointment to points you might consider raising.

We are heartened by the number of people actively involved and interested in meeting their politicians to express their views. The People Before Profit Bill which regrettably passed at 2nd stage of the Dáil on 31st May must also be countered. Even the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has said this Bill goes far beyond the recommendations of the Three-Year Review – which are already extreme in their own right.

It is crucial to engage with our politicians and remind them not to overlook the referendum promises. We need to fight to ensure our abortion policy is aimed at reducing the abortion rate.

Please take a moment to get involved in the
Humanity Campaign ([link removed]) . Remember even the smallest effort will make a big difference.

Thank you!
Send an instant email to your politicians here ([link removed])
Read more about the Humanity Campaign here ([link removed])
Do you have pro-life material which could be historically relevant? (http://)
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 (mailto:[email protected]) if they possess such material (no matter how old or dusty!) to ensure it is preserved now and not lost to the ages.
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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]

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