Ministers Stephen Donnelly and Simon Harris who both led the push for the draconian exclusion zone law to be introduced.
The constitutionality of the extreme and discriminatory exclusion zone bill which passed at final stage in the Dáil on Wednesday evening will very likely be challenged in court after it becomes law. The bill now proceeds to the Seanad where a final vote will happen before it passes into law.
The result of Wednesday evening’s Dáil vote, criminalising peaceful pro-life protests outside abortion facilities, came as no surprise.Â
When the then Minister for Health Simon Harris first mooted the idea of an exclusion zone law back in 2019, it was evident that an overwhelming majority of TDs backed the idea despite the draconian and discriminatory nature of the proposal. Also, with the main political parties imposing the party whip on the issue, it was unrealistic to expect many if any TDs from those parties to break ranks.
Despite the odds being stacked against defeating the bill, it didn’t stop the Pro Life Campaign and others from vigorously opposing the proposal, given the way it specifically targets a particular group of citizens (namely pro-lifers) and criminalises them for exercising the right to peacefully protest and assemble.  Â
Amendments to the bill can and should be proposed in the Seanad but even if accepted they are unlikely to alter the repressive and authoritarian nature of the proposal in any significant way. At the point it passes into law, however, a legal challenge to its constitutionality is very likely to happen.
Pro-life supporters, understandably, will be very upset that only a handful of TDs opposed the bill at final stage on Wednesday. It is important though to keep in mind that depending on the issue the votes of TDs fluctuate considerably. For example, just a few months back, 64 TDs voted against BrĂd Smith’s pro-abortion bill at second stage. So while these times continue to be very testing for the pro-life cause, it’s of vital importance that we remain vigilant and active at every level. Top of the list though is growing the pro-life vote at election time to ensure more pro-life TDs and Senators are elected. That’s the key to securing positive incremental change in the short term.
Listen back here to Newstalk’s interview with EilĂs Mulroy of the Pro Life Campaign from earlier in the week, discussing the Exclusion Bill with Shane Coleman.
The parents of eight-month-old baby Indi have hit out at the British courts system and NHS to express their anger, heartbreak, and shame following the death of their child at before 2am on 13th November.Â
Indi was born earlier this year with a rare genetic condition and had been receiving life-sustaining care on a ventilator at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham. Doctors decided the case was hopeless and advised the parents to end life-support for Indi, precipitating her death. Her parents fought a battle in the courts to oppose this.Â
An offer to continue providing Indi with life-sustaining care was made by a Vatican hospital. The Italian government moved swiftly to enable Indi to continue receiving life-saving care, even granting her Italian citizenship.Â
However, despite receiving this serious offer of continued care which would take the “burden” off the UK taxpayer to keep Indi alive, the courts decided to block the transport of Indi from Nottingham to Rome. Judges said a move to Italy was not in Indi’s best interests and called an intervention by Italian consular officials “wholly misconceived”.
Following the failure of the parents’ legal appeals in Strasbourg, the hospital removed her life support. Indi’s parents were denied the opportunity to have Indi at home for her last minutes and hours, instead she was taken to a hospice.Â
Speaking afterwards, Indi’s father, Dean, said: “Claire and I have always wanted what is in Indi’s best interests. She has human rights and we wanted her to have the best treatment possible. If the UK did not want to fund it, why can she not go to Italy and receive the treatment and care which the amazing Italian Prime Minister and government has offered... This feels like the latest kick in the teeth, and we will not give up fighting for our daughter’s chance to live until the end.”
From the early 1990s until 2020, abortion in Poland was generally illegal except in cases of a serious threat to the mother’s health, if the mother was a victim of a crime (i.e. rape), or if the child had a severe disability. A 2020 Constitutional Tribunal ruled that the latter eugenic reason for abortion was unconstitutional. This decision has mobilised considerable activism in favour of undoing this ruling and indeed radically expanding abortion laws in general.
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The likely incoming government has strongly signalled its intention to legalise abortion. The new coalition government includes the Civic Coalition, the Left, and Third Way. Civic Coalition and the Left each support a 12-week abortion law, whilst Third Way is less enthusiastic but has indicated support for a referendum. The Polish Left has already introduced a bill in parliament aimed at legalising abortion up to 12 weeks.Â
The incumbent president, Andrzej Duda, has indicated he would veto any pro-abortion bill which passed his desk. However, his term is set to expire in 2025, and it is quite possible that a pro-abortion president could be elected in Poland.Â
Undoubtedly the recent election results will threaten Poland’s pro-life ethos. The task ahead will be for pro-life Poles to mobilise at grassroots level, to politically challenge the prospective introduction of legalised abortion, and to make a strong case in the media.Â
Ireland can provide a warning to Poland on how abortion can be introduced in a “limited” form initially before attempts are made to radically expand it, as we are seeing in the current three-year review proposals which would make Ireland’s abortion laws among the most extreme in the world if adopted.Â
Alex Schadenberg, Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
On Saturday, 11 November, Hope Ireland held a conference in Dublin. Hope Ireland is a coalition of medical experts and campaigners committed to opposing the introduction of euthanasia and assisted suicide in Ireland. The conference was held due to the progressing work of the Joint Committee on Assisted Dying, which is currently reviewing whether to introduce a form of euthanasia in Ireland.
Speakers included Dr Des O’Neill, Professor of Medical Gerontology; Dr Miriam Colleran, Consultant in Palliative Medicine; Dr Gordan MacDonald, Chief Executive of Care Not Killing; and Alex Schadenberg, Director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.
The keynote speaker, Alex Schadenberg, has been a tireless campaigner against euthanasia in Canada. He lucidly outlined how Canada’s euthanasia laws began within a “limited” framework and how this has gradually expanded. He highlighted several disturbing cases of attempts to offer euthanasia to people who were suffering from depression and who were facing financial hardship.
Mr Schadenberg said: “The culture of abandonment associated with euthanasia can be changed by caring. It is essential that people who feel that their life lacks value or purpose, or feel that no one cares are offered purpose, support and genuine hope from a significant community. The answer is to care and be with others as they journey through the difficult times of their life.”
The conference included a panel discussion moderated by Dr Colleran which focused on what steps Hope Ireland and other campaigners against euthanasia/assisted suicide can take next to fight against its introduction in Ireland.
Our Pro Life Campaign Annual Fundraising Auction 2023 CLOSES SOON!
Bid on items you love until 10pm sharp TOMORROW the 18th of November!
We are delighted to announce our 2023 Pro Life Campaign Annual Fundraising Auction is NOW LIVE! We have a fantastic range of auction items this year, along with a superb raffle with the chance to win great prizes. Â
Register now and you will be able to see the items on offer:Â
It’s a really important time 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. Remember even the smallest effort will make a big difference.
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.Â
Vital Signs is the e-newsletter of the Pro Life Campaign. 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]
