Great turnout at PLC National Conference in Cork where upcoming election

was the main focus

Over 300 pro-life volunteers attended the Pro Life Campaign’s National Conference in Cork last weekend.

There was a palpable energy and enthusiasm at the event for getting actively involved in the upcoming general election campaign, to guarantee that more pro-life TDs are elected. Underscoring the urgency of the moment, most of the speeches touched on the election and offered practical suggestions on how to maximise the pro-life vote.

Among the guest speakers were Independent Ireland leader Micheal Collins TD and recently elected Aontú councillor from Limerick, Sarah Beasley.

Councillor Beasley, who in addition to her pro-life advocacy, is known in Limerick for her outreach to the homeless and those with addiction problems, told attendees to make sure they play an active part over  the coming weeks, saying “I’m begging every single one of you” to come out and canvass or leaflet to help get more pro-life TDs elected.

Michael Collins mentioned in his address what a difference it would make if there were more pro-life TDs in the Dáil, saying: “It will happen if people get out there and canvass, and if not canvass then at least distribute leaflets or make phone calls.”  Deputy Collins also referenced in his speech how the media twist and misrepresent the pro-life position, including remarks made by pro-life people. He cited the example where the distinction between necessary medical treatments in pregnancy and induced abortion are oftentimes deliberately blurred, saying: “There is a massive distinction between abortion that intentionally ends the life of a baby and a medical intervention to save the life of the mother that does not intentionally set out to harm the baby. It causes tremendous confusion when elements in the media insist on labelling all these procedures as ‘abortion’ when clearly they are not. It is another feature of our battle having to make these distinctions clear.”

Dr Margaret Naughton, Clinical Pastoral Educational Supervisor at University Hospital Kerry, also addressed the conference, presenting a unique and life-affirming perspective regarding end-of-life care and the challenges faced by the ongoing push for euthanasia to be legalised in Ireland. She said it can be difficult and challenging at times to “to defend the other, to defend those who are struggling, to defend the voiceless” but that we have “an ethical and moral imperative” to speak out given what is at stake and the type of euthanasia regime that will be introduced if we don’t.  

Ruth O’Sullivan, a nurse from West Cork, shared her deeply personal and moving story of abortion and the impact it has had on her life. Ruth talked about how it has been a painful journey for her and her family but that her hope is that by sharing her story it helps “to break the silence” about the “reality of the horrors that can unfold after making the life-altering and permanent decision” to abort a baby. Attendees at the conference remarked afterwards about how much Ruth’s testimony impacted them, and they praised her courage and sincerity in speaking out.

In her remarks to attendees, Eilís Mulroy of the Pro Life Campaign stressed the importance of maximising the pro-life vote in the election, saying: “It comes down to being organised. It comes down to getting the word out. It comes down to each one of us setting aside the time to do leaflet drops for pro-life candidates—or better still, to canvass for them.”

Read this article in full and view more photos from last weekend’s PLC National Conference in Cork here on prolifecampaign.ie/plc-national-conference/

Videos of the speeches given at the Conference will follow in the coming days.

Wednesday’s Dáil vote on euthanasia/assisted suicide report has no binding effect

The Dáil voted on Wednesday evening in favour of noting the recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Assisted Dying in its final report.

76 TDs voted in favour, with 53 TDs voting No.

It’s important to clarify that Wednesday’s vote was not a vote on the issue of euthanasia/assisted suicide itself but involved members of the Dáil merely noting the contents of the recent report of the Joint Committee on Assisted Dying, which called for the introduction of euthanasia/assisted suicide in Ireland.

No question - it would have been preferable if a majority of TDs had voted No. It is clear from the remarks of many Oireachtas members in recent days that they haven't reflected on or studied the extreme recommendations contained in the JCAD report.

In addition to reducing the value of human life and undermining anti-suicide campaigns, the introduction of euthanasia/assisted suicide in Ireland would have the impact of undercutting investment in palliative care and would inevitably lead to certain vulnerable groups feeling growing pressure to opt for euthanasia/assisted suicide, as shown by what has happened in the small number of countries that have gone down this troubling road.

Significantly the push for euthanasia/assisted suicide has been opposed by professional bodies such as the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland and the Irish Palliative Medicine Consultants Association.

We’ll all have to work extremely hard to ensure that the next Dáil (after the General Election) focuses on promoting assisted living, not assisted dying. There’s so much good and life-affirming work that needs to be done in this area and candidates in the upcoming General Election have a duty to state clearly where they stand on the issue so voters are left in no doubt with regard to their positions in advance of Election Day.

Credit to the 53 TDs who voted No on Wednesday evening! They understand the seriousness of the issue and how extreme and far-reaching the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Assisted Dying are, and the type of life-ending regime it would usher in if given effect in law.

See below how your local TDs voted

Oireachtas Life and Dignity Group hosts event on Whole Person Care with

Professor Tom Hutchinson

Dr Tom Hutchinson, Professor in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Oncology at McGill University (Montreal, Canada), presented a briefing on Whole Person Care to the All Party Oireachtas Life and Dignity Group last Tuesday, 22nd October. The event was chaired by independent TD for Louth, Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick and was hosted in the AV Room of Leinster House.

Dr Hutchinson spoke about his work in pioneering the approach of Whole Person Care. This concept aims to rethink how doctors do medicine, adding an extra emphasis on healing rather than simply curing patients.

As a healthcare model, it considers a patient's well-being in its entirety, rather than just focusing on specific symptoms or diseases. It takes into account a patient's physical, mental, behavioural, social, and spiritual health, and emphasises the importance of collaboration between patients and providers. Dr Hutchinson has been a leading advocate of this approach, has written several books on the subject and has hosted international conferences on Whole Person Care.

The presentation lasted forty minutes and drew on Dr Hutchinson’s work as a medical professional in Canada whilst also reflecting on personal stories and experiences he had during his life and career. Afterwards, politicians had an opportunity to ask questions and share their views.

Speaking after the event, Deputy Fitzpatrick thanked Dr Hutchinson for taking the time to address the All Party Oireachtas Life and Dignity Group (of which he is co-chair) and expressed his personal hope that Whole Person Care can be greater incorporated as a concept within the Irish healthcare system.

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