Ireland – Abortion fundraiser lays 35-year history bare

Abortion fundraiser lays 35-year history bare
Saturday, April 14, 2018

They read like miniature epitaphs, writes Joyce Fegan.

The Kilty Family: “In loving memory of Alana Kilty, delivered in Liverpool Women’s Hospital on the 04/03/2017. A victim of Edwards Syndrome and a backwards country. Your parents love and miss you xoxo.”

Anonymous: “For my lovely mam who was forced to carry my sleeping brother to full term. She loved him. This country didn’t love her.”

Siobhan Donohue: “In memory of baby TJ delivered in Liverpool Women’s on October 1, 2011 and for all our TFMR [Terminations for Medical Reasons] babies. Let’s bring compassion home.”

Continued: https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/views/analysis/abortion-fundraiser-lays-35-year-history-bare-837271.html


Irish novelist warns of Brexit-style revolt against elite on abortion vote

Irish novelist warns of Brexit-style revolt against elite on abortion vote
As referendum day nears, Patrick McCabe says Dublin media liberals could pay for snobbery towards rural Ireland

Henry McDonald
Sun 8 Apr 2018

One of Ireland’s most critically acclaimed novelists has warned that the country’s referendum on abortion in May could be a “Brexit/Trump” moment for Ireland, exposing similar divisions between rural voters and city-dwellers.

Patrick McCabe, the author of bestsellers The Butcher Boy and Breakfast on Pluto, both made into feature films, said there was a danger that sections of the “metropolitan media in Dublin” could alienate voters in rural constituencies and help usher in a no vote against abortion reform.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/07/ireland-abortion-vote-trump-style-backlash-liberal-elite-patrick-mccabe


Campaigners in Berlin to hold fundraiser ahead of Irish abortion referendum

Campaigners in Berlin to hold fundraiser ahead of Irish abortion referendum

Rachel Loxton
5 April 2018

Pro-choice campaigners have a serious message in their fight for reproductive rights. But a group of expats in Berlin is aiming to provide some light relief on the issue of abortion by inviting people to party together.

The Berlin-Ireland Pro Choice Solidarity group is trying to remove the stigma of abortion, raise funds for women in need and highlight the upcoming Irish referendum on abortion laws at the fundraiser on Friday April 6th.

Continued: https://www.thelocal.de/20180405/pro-abortion-irish-referendum-berlin


Ireland sets May date for historic abortion referendum

Ireland sets May date for historic abortion referendum
Vote on 25 May will offer citizens opportunity to overhaul one of world’s strictest regimes

Henry McDonald , Ireland correspondent
Wed 28 Mar 2018

Ireland will vote in a referendum on 25 May on liberalising its strict abortion laws, the government has confirmed, in an announcement that officially begins two months of campaigning.

Abortion has long been a divisive issue in the once stridently Catholic country. A complete ban was only lifted in 2013, when terminations were allowed in cases where the mother’s life was in danger.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/28/ireland-sets-abortion-referendum-date


An Irish abortion referendum raises questions on why NZ is still waiting

An Irish abortion referendum raises questions on why NZ is still waiting

BRAD FLAHIVE
March 14 2018

As Ireland presses on with a referendum that could modernise abortion laws in a predominantly Catholic country, it raises questions about how progressive New Zealand is with feticide laws.

Last week, the Irish government agreed the wording of its referendum. Voters will be asked if they want to repeal article 40.3.3 – a law that gives unborn foetuses and pregnant women an equal right to life.

Continued: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/102130614/an-irish-abortion-referendum-raises-questions-why-nz-is-still-waiting


Ireland – Taoiseach is confident of abortion reform ‘within months’

Taoiseach is confident of abortion reform ‘within months’
Leo Varadkar says the referendum is a question of trusting women

Sun, Mar 11, 2018
Suzanne Lynch in Austin, Sarah Bardon

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he is confident legislation to reform the State’s abortion laws will be in place by the end of this year.

Mr Varadkar, who is favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment and allowing for terminations up to 12 weeks, expressed confidence the referendum on the matter will be held by May and said new legislation could be in place within a matter of months.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/taoiseach-is-confident-of-abortion-reform-within-months-1.3423132


Irish Supreme Court clears path for abortion referendum by ruling unborn children only have right to life

Irish Supreme Court clears path for abortion referendum by ruling unborn children only have right to life
Vote faced delays if foetuses afforded more protections

Harriet Agerholm
March 7, 2018

Ireland’s highest court has ruled protections for an unborn child offered under the state’s constitution do not extend beyond the right to life. The landmark decision, which was approved unanimously by seven senior judges, clears a path for a referendum on abortion in the summer.

A High Court previously ruled an unborn child was entitled to the same constitutional protections as a child.

Continued: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ireland-abortion-referendum-unborn-children-right-to-life-supreme-court-ruling-termination-a8243611.html


Ireland – Supreme Court case could derail abortion referendum timetable

Supreme Court case could derail abortion referendum timetable
Ruling on rights of unborn has potential to force Government rethink

Feb 21, 2018
Mary Carolan, Pat Leahy

The Supreme Court will today begin hearing an appeal whose outcome could throw the Government’s plans for an abortion referendum into doubt. Depending on the court’s ruling, the vote could be delayed by months, forcing a fundamental rethink of the proposed wording and approach.

Seven justices will sit this morning to hear the State’s appeal of a High Court decision last summer that ruled for the first time that the unborn has rights in law beyond the constitutionally protected right to life. Lawyers for the State will seek to have the High Court decision overturned. If the State fails in its case, there will be significant implications for the protection of the unborn, not least in relation to the proposed referendum.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/supreme-court-case-could-derail-abortion-referendum-timetable-1.3399484


Ireland: Amnesty challenges Sipo order to return abortion campaign donation

Amnesty challenges Sipo order to return abortion campaign donation
Group says €137,000 payment from Open Society Foundations not for political purposes

Feb 12, 2018
Aodhan O'Faolain

Amnesty International’s Irish section has challenged an order by the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) requiring it to return a €137,000 donation to its campaign to hold a referendum on the State’s abortion laws.

The donation was made in August 2015 by the Swiss-based Open Society Foundations (OSF), founded by billionaire George Soros, for the “My Body, My Rights” campaign, which involved organising events and seminars for politicians prior to the 2016 general election.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/amnesty-challenges-sipo-order-to-return-abortion-campaign-donation-1.3389577


Ireland: Pro-Life Campaign loses Supreme Court bid to join case on unborn

Pro-Life Campaign loses Supreme Court bid to join case on unborn
State argued that, as case concerned constitutional law, campaign could not bring extra expertise

Feb 7, 2018
Mary Carolan

The Supreme Court has refused the Pro Life Campaign’s application to be heard in the State’s forthcoming appeal concerning the extent of the constitutional rights of the unborn.

The three-judge court said the appeal concerned purely legal issues and the assistance the campaign could offer would be minimal.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/pro-life-campaign-loses-supreme-court-bid-to-join-case-on-unborn-1.3383387