Abortion: Micheál Martin’s decisive intervention

Abortion: Micheál Martin’s decisive intervention
Fianna Fáil leader’s initiative is a political risk as a significant number of party members will have been taken aback by it

Sat, Jan 20, 2018

The announcement by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin that he will back the removal of the Eighth Amendment from the Constitution and support unrestricted abortion up to 12 weeks is a courageous move.

Given that a significant proportion of his parliamentary party takes a very different view of the issue, his decisive intervention in the debate surprised many people. Some of his own TDs and senators were stunned by Martin’s speech in the Dáil, particularly as he had not given any warning of his intentions.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/abortion-miche%C3%A1l-martin-s-decisive-intervention-1.3361566