How the Yes and No sides won and lost the abortion referendum

How the Yes and No sides won and lost the abortion referendum

Harry McGee: Smiling Savita portraits proclaiming a new reality for Ireland
May 26, 2018

Harry McGee Political Correspondent

In the last few days of the referendum campaign on the Eight Amendment dozens of small posters appeared around Dublin.

The image was of Savita Halappanavar, instantly recognisable from her thick dark hair, wide smile, smiling eyes, and the Bindi dot on the forehead. The message contained one word: Yes. They were striking in their simplicity and directness.

The Savita case (read Kitty Holland’s report from 2012 here) was never too far away from people’s minds during the eight weeks that this extraordinary referendum campaign seeped into Irish public consciousness on doorsteps, in the streets, in the media, or on the airwaves… right up to polling day.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-referendum/how-the-yes-and-no-sides-won-and-lost-the-abortion-referendum-1.3509924


Ireland – Proposed abortion law ‘follows best legal and medical practice’

Proposed abortion law ‘follows best legal and medical practice’
Irish legislation cannot be described as being ‘like the abortion law in Britain’, says expert

May 2, 2018
Ronan McGreevy

The proposed abortion law in Ireland which will come in if the Eighth Amendment is repealed will be much more restrictive than the law in Britain, a legal expert has said.

Fiona De Londras, Professor of Global Legal Studies at the University of Birmingham, said there is no provision for unrestricted abortion up to six months under the proposed Irish law except in extreme circumstances.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-referendum/proposed-abortion-law-follows-best-legal-and-medical-practice-1.3481736


Varadkar backs Yes vote saying Ireland should ‘trust women and trust doctors’

Varadkar backs Yes vote saying Ireland should ‘trust women and trust doctors’

April 21, 2018
Aine McMahon

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has hit out at claims by the No side in the abortion referendum campaign.

Mr Varadkar said if the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution is repealed, the Government will introduce a safe, regulated doctor-led system in Ireland.

The Eighth Amendment was inserted into the Constitution after a referendum in 1983. The amendment guarantees to protect as far as practicable the equal right to life of the unborn and the mother. It prohibits abortion in almost all cases. Voters go to the polls on May 25th to decide whether or not to remove the provision from the Constitution and introduce legislation allowing for abortion in certain circumstances and without restriction in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-referendum/varadkar-backs-yes-vote-saying-ireland-should-trust-women-and-trust-doctors-1.3469913


Repeal campaigner accuses anti-abortion campaigner of ‘sustained attack’

Repeal campaigner accuses anti-abortion campaigner of ‘sustained attack’
Janet O’Sullivan issues statement to the media in relation to Save the 8th spokesman

Fri, Apr 13, 2018
Colin Gleeson

A prominent campaigner for the repeal side in the upcoming abortion referendum has accused the spokesman of the Save the 8th campaign of mounting a “sustained attack” on her through social media.

In a statement on Friday, Janet O’Sullivan, who also goes by Janet Ní Shúilleabháin, said the dispute centred on remarks she made on Twitter following the death of former Fine Gael TD Peter Mathews.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/repeal-campaigner-accuses-anti-abortion-campaigner-of-sustained-attack-1.3461253


Ireland – ‘It is completely false to say abortion will take place right up until the end of pregnancy’

'It is completely false to say abortion will take place right up until the end of pregnancy'
Dr Peter Boylan met with Health Minister Simon Harris today to discuss the risk associated with taking abortion pills.

April 12, 2018

“IT IS COMPLETELY FALSE to say abortion will take place right up until the end of pregnancy,” said Dr Peter Boylan today.

Health Minister Simon Harris and Arts Minister Josepha Madigan (who is tasked with driving Fine Gael’s referendum campaign) joined Dr Boylan today to discuss the medical harm posed to women by the Eighth Amendment.

The health minister said there was already a lot of “misinformation” being spread on the issue of late-term abortions.

Continued: http://www.thejournal.ie/peter-boylan-abortion-3955243-Apr2018/


Ireland: Fine Gael wants cabinet unity over abortion

Fine Gael wants cabinet unity over abortion

Justine McCarthy and Stephen O’Brien
December 17 2017

Health minister Simon Harris wants the cabinet to adopt a united front on next year’s abortion referendum, although just six of the 15 ministers say they support the findings of a special Oireachtas committee.

Analysis of ministers’ previous statements on abortion and their voting records on related Oireachtas motions indicates 12 ministers could support the removal of the 34-year-old abortion ban from the constitution.

The six who have stated their support are Charlie Flanagan, Eoghan Murphy, Regina Doherty, Josepha Madigan, Katherine Zappone and Shane Ross.

Continued at source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ireland/fine-gael-wants-cabinet-unity-over-abortion-nzqhskm2p


Ireland: Abortion referendum set for May or June of next year

Abortion referendum set for May or June of next year
Varadkar will bring indicative dates of various polls coinciding with elections to Cabinet

Sep 25, 2017
Mary Minihan

A referendum on the eighth amendment governing Ireland’s abortion laws is provisionally scheduled for either May or June 2018, according to a memorandum Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is bringing to Cabinet this week.

Indicative dates for upcoming referendums and future polls will be discussed by Ministers on Tuesday, with a number of votes possibly taking place on the same day as a presidential election.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-referendum-set-for-may-or-june-of-next-year-1.3232397