Ireland: Sinn Féin TDs clash over abortion committee

Sinn Féin TDs clash over abortion committee

Niamh Lyons, Ireland Political Editor
November 13 2017

A Sinn Féin TD has been publicly rebuked by a party colleague for his remarks about the Dáil’s Eighth Amendment committee.

Peadar Tóibín, who has previously called for his party to allow TDs a conscience vote on abortion, yesterday gave a personal view on the issue rather than the agreed stance of Sinn Féin.

Continued at source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ireland/sinn-fein-tds-clash-over-abortion-committee-qrrdsrx5p

13.11.2017

UK: Woman paid €30,000 over having to travel for abortion

Woman paid €30,000 over having to travel for abortion
UN Human Rights Committee case concerns abortion in UK for fatal foetal abnormality

Nov 7, 2017
Pat Leahy

The Government has paid €30,000 in compensation to a woman who travelled to the UK for an abortion after a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality.

Siobhan Whelan, who successfully took a case to the United Nations Human Rights Committee earlier this year, has also been offered access to counselling services.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/woman-paid-30-000-over-having-to-travel-for-abortion-1.3283416

07.11.2017

UN Human Rights Committee

Ireland: Sinn Féin to settle party policy on abortion at ardfheis

Sinn Féin to settle party policy on abortion at ardfheis
Leader Gerry Adams says his personal view is that it should be a woman’s right to choose

Nov 6, 2017
Fiach Kelly, Amanda Ferguson

Sinn Féin’s executive body is to table a motion at the party ardfheis later this month recommitting to a policy of allowing abortion in the case of rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormality ahead of next year’s referendum.

It is expected to be one of a number of motions on abortion at the event in Dublin’s RDS, and whatever is decided will settle party policy ahead of the referendum.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/sinn-f%C3%A9in-to-settle-party-policy-on-abortion-at-ardfheis-1.3281024

06.11.2017

Sinn Fein pro-choice motion

Ireland: Human rights commission calls for legalisation of abortion

Human rights commission calls for legalisation of abortion
State human rights watchdog says abortion should be widely available

Oct 4, 2017
Pat Leahy

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, the Government’s human rights watchdog, will on Wednesday call on the Government to introduce a referendum to delete the Eighth Amendment and go on to legislate for widespread access to abortion.

The commission, set up to monitor and advise the Government on human rights issues, is to give evidence at the Oireachtas committee on the amendment on Wednesday.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/human-rights-commission-calls-for-legalisation-of-abortion-1.3243367

Ireland: Abortion law drafts defended by Harris

Abortion law drafts defended by Harris

Ellen Coyne, Senior Ireland Reporter
July 31 2017, The Times

Simon Harris has said that new abortion laws must be ready to go to fit Leo Varadkar’s timetable for a referendum on the Eighth Amendment.

The health minister defended his decision to start drafting legislation that could legalise abortion in certain circumstances before a special Oireachtas committee has had the time to decide if the constitutional ban should be lifted.

Continued at source: The Times: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ireland/abortion-law-drafts-defended-byharris-mgpqgsbpd

31.07.2017

Ireland’s abortion regime to be scrutinised by British politicians

Ireland’s abortion regime to be scrutinised by British politicians
Inquiry will focus on issues relating to women travelling from Ireland to Britain

July 18, 2017
Mary Minihan

A fresh inquiry into Ireland’s abortion regime will be undertaken by a group of British and Irish politicians.

A committee of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, chaired by former Northern Ireland Office minister Lord Alfred Dubs, will focus on issues relating to women travelling from Ireland to Britain to seek terminations.

Lord Dubs announced the inquiry into the “cross-jurisdictional” implications of abortion policy at the assembly meeting in Kilkenny on Tuesday.

Continued at source: Irish Times: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ireland-s-abortion-regime-to-be-scrutinised-by-british-politicians-1.3158798

Ireland: Members of Oireachtas committee on abortion reveal positions

Members of Oireachtas committee on abortion reveal positions
Of the members who answered, seven said they were pro-choice, two anti-abortion

May 4, 2017
Mary Minihan

Seven Oireachtas members who will sit on the new cross-party committee on abortion have declared themselves pro-choice, while two have said they are anti-abortion.

Others have declined to state their position on the issue ahead of the formation of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, which will consider the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly. The original plan was to have 16 TDs and four Senators on the committee, but the Seanad has pushed for seven representatives.

Continued at source: Irish Times: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/members-of-oireachtas-committee-on-abortion-reveal-positions-1.3070406

04.05.2017

Ireland: Oireachtas committee to ponder changes to abortion ban

Oireachtas committee to ponder changes to abortion ban
The committee will spend months examining Citizens’ Assembly recommendations
Mon, Apr 3, 2017
Pat Leahy

A special Oireachtas committee is to be established this week to consider possible changes to the constitutional ban on abortion.

The committee will spend several months examining the issue and the recommendations from the Citizens’ Assembly, which has been debating the topic since the autumn.

Continued at source: Irish Times: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas-committee-to-ponder-changes-to-abortion-ban-1.3034669

03.04.2017