Ireland: Independent Alliance will rue abandoning abortion principles

Zappone operating in hostile environment rarely in tune to needs of women’s rights

Oct 27, 2016
Una Mullally

The alliance of Independent TDs supporting the Government may not be a formal party, but the way they are behaving has echoes of how smaller coalition parties end up getting absolutely crushed in subsequent elections.

We saw it with Labour in 2016 and with the Green Party in 2011. Is it unfair that smaller coalition elements get obliterated as a consequence of public dissatisfaction with government? Probably, but we hold those who run for election on a specific set of principles to a higher standard than the same old party politicians.

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Source: Irish Times

27.10.2016

Ireland: Independent Coalition TDs expect free vote on abortion

Members of the Independent Alliance Shane Ross and Finian McGrath who voted to support an abortion vote earlier this summer. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Finian McGrath says ‘we are not looking for a row’ over motion to hold referendum

Tue, Aug 23, 2016, 01:00
by Pat Leahy, Irish Times

Members of the Independent Alliance expect that they will have a free vote on a Dáil motion on an abortion referendum in the autumn, reigniting the July divisions in the Coalition that caused the most serious Cabinet split since the formation of the Government.

A number of Independent TDs are likely to vote in favour, although it will be opposed by Fine Gael because the Government – of which the Independent TDs are members – has referred the abortion question to a citizens’ assembly, expected to be set up in October.

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Source: Irish Times

23.08.2016