Last night Dáil Éireann held the second stage debate for Gino Kenny TD's 'Dying with Dignity Bill. If passed, it would fully legalise euthanasia and assisted suicide.Despite a relentless push for this legislation in the media, doctors who will be tasked with actually administering the lethal drugs remain overwhelmingly opposed.
The Irish Palliative Medicine Consultants' Association, the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland, and The Association for Palliative Medicine of Britain and Ireland have all made clear their opposition to this Bill.In countries in which similar bills have been enacted, the number of people dying by euthanasia increases exponentially in just a short space of time.
During the debate last night on the Euthanasia Bill, those who opposed the Bill got less than 5 minutes speaking time in the entire 75 minute debate! Credit to Deputy Peadar Tóibín for speaking up for the right for opposing voices to be heard last night.
You can watch Peadar Tóibín's intervention below.
In the Netherlands in 2019, over 6300 people died in this way.In addition, safeguards are never sufficient to protect vulnerable people from abuse. Just last year a shocking case came to light in which a woman who had revoked her consent to be euthanised was held down by her family members whilst the doctor administered the lethal drugs to her.
The vote on the so-called Dying With Dignity Bill takes place next week in Dáil Éireann. To visit the Hope Ireland website and send a message to TDs asking them to vote against the Bill next Wednesday, click here
"Today, October 1st, is the United Nations International Day for Older Persons. It is a very sad thing that we are debating a Bill about ending life rather than talking about assisting and enriching life on such an important day."
Thank you to Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick who spoke in opposition to the Euthanasia Bill last night in Dáil Éireann on UN International Day for Older Persons. You can watch his speech here.
In this new video from Hope Ireland, Kathleen Rogers shares her deeply moving story about her disability and terminal illness.
Kathleen also challenges the attempts being made to introduce euthanasia/assisted suicide. You can watch her video here.
As readers of Vital Signs newsletter will be aware, Laois Offaly TD Carol Nolan has asked a serious of very important questions to the Minister for Health in recent weeks on various aspects of the rollout of the new abortion law and the dangers it poses to women as well as to their unborn babies.
This week she received another reply from the Minister for Health on the specific issue of whether there was a national reporting system with regard to adverse outcomes on women’s health from the provision of abortion. She received confirmation that is no national reporting system in place. It is an absolute scandal that this the way things are, and it shows a completely cavalier and reckless disregard for the lives of women, who government ministers and others claimed they were trying to protect introducing abortion.
Thanks again to Carol Nolan for unearthing so many details about the new abortion regime that would stay hidden if she didn’t take the time to ask the hard questions of those in power.
JOIN our PLC Network Webinar TOMORROW Saturday, 3rd October at 11am with guest speaker, leader of new political party Aontú Peadar Tóibín.
The webinar will include a panel discussion and updates on the push for Euthanasia over recent days as well as spotlights on Grassroots activism around Ireland. A chat and Q&Afacility will ensure participant engagement . The event is FREE but pre-registration is essential
This year, instead of our usual annual dinner, we are inviting all our supporters to register to attend an online auction to help raise funds for our ongoing education and support work.
This auction will run for 10 days online, starting on the 7th of October and closes at 9pm on 16th October.
You can bid on lots of exciting auction items and buy raffle tickets, from anywhere and as many times as you like!
Registration Fee of €30 includes 10 day entry to auction and a complimentary raffle ticket.
The news during the Summer that 7041 babies lost their lives to abortion during 2019 was devastating. Our challenge is to find new strategic ways to reduce those massive numbers and fight for justice for unborn babies and their mothers.
Join hundreds of other pro-life advocates at the PLC National Conference 2020 which this year will be streamed live ONLINE on 31st October from 11am-1.30pm.
An amazing line up of speakers from Ireland, Britain, the US and elsewhere will join us for an informative afternoon which will include:
-Panels with grassroots, public representatives and students
-Interviews with change-makers within the pro-life movement discussing strategies for making positive change.
-Updates on local PLC Network projects and national campaigns
-Videos and live streams from around Ireland
This not to be missed event will be encouraging, and will remind us of how important it is to remain committed to our work of protecting mothers and their unborn babies!
Are you a secondary school (TY or older) or third level student? Would you like to experience working with a pro-active Human Rights organisation and develop skills in advocacy, campaign management and project planning? We are seeking ‘virtual’ interns to work part-time from home at this time. Internships run for one week periods throughout the Summer.
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]
