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


Lawyers for No confident public will reject repeal of Eighth Amendment

Lawyers for No confident public will reject repeal of Eighth Amendment
Benedict O Floinn says proposal to remove rights of unborn from Constitution ‘clearly unjust’

April 27, 2018
Barry Roche

The Irish people will reject the Government’s proposal to repeal the Eighth Amendment because they feel uncomfortable with it paving the way for abortion on demand, a leading lawyer campaigning for a No vote has predicted.

Barrister Benedict O Floinn BL of the Lawyers for No group said if it was any other issue other than abortion, the matter would have been settled by now. He expressed confidence the referendum would be defeated, the Government will accept the result and the issue will not trouble the Irish people again.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-referendum/lawyers-for-no-confident-public-will-reject-repeal-of-eighth-amendment-1.3476489


Ireland – Abortion referendum to go ahead following Dáil vote

Abortion referendum to go ahead following Dáil vote
Vote to hold referendum passes by 97 to 27, with 16 Fianna Fáil TDs voting against

Wed, Mar 21, 2018
Sarah Bardon, Marie O'Halloran, Michael O'Regan

TDs voted by 97 to 27 on Wednesday night to allow a referendum on abortion to go ahead.

After numerous votes in the Dáil, 16 Fianna Fáil TDs voted against the legislation, five fewer than in a vote earlier in the day.

The Bill now goes to the Seanad.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/abortion-referendum-to-go-ahead-following-d%C3%A1il-vote-1.3435008


Ireland – Abortion referendum will hang on the undecided middle ground

Abortion referendum will hang on the undecided middle ground
Analysis: People ‘want to hear from women and doctors’, say focus groups

Feb 20, 2018
Pat Leahy Political Editor

Opinion polls published last weekend suggest a tightening of the abortion referendum campaign, as it becomes clear that a large undecided middle ground will be the key to the outcome.

The Cabinet will today consider a draft referendum Bill, but that process will not be completed until after the Supreme Court has ruled in an appeal that begins on Thursday.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-referendum-will-hang-on-the-undecided-middle-ground-1.3397981


Ireland – No anti-abortion medical experts willing to argue for Eighth – Noone

No anti-abortion medical experts willing to argue for Eighth – Noone
No Irish-based consultants or GPs ‘made available to Committee on Eighth Amendment’

Feb 19, 2018
Ronan McGreevy

The chair of the Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment has revealed the committee could not find a single medical expert in Ireland to argue the case for the status quo.

Senator Catherine Noone said the committee secretariat and the membership had been asked to put forward experts who would put the medical case for retaining the Eighth Amendment.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/no-anti-abortion-medical-experts-willing-to-argue-for-eighth-noone-1.3397941


Ireland: Mixed views after Cabinet agrees to vote on replacing Eighth

Mixed views after Cabinet agrees to vote on replacing Eighth
Reaction: Harris says suggesting that women would abort disabled child is offensive

Jan 30, 2018
Vivienne Clarke

It is offensive to suggest that Irish women would seek an abortion to avoid having a child with a disability, Minister for Health Simon Harris has said.

Mr Harris pointed out that the Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment had voted specifically to avoid disability as grounds for abortion.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/mixed-views-after-cabinet-agrees-to-vote-on-replacing-eighth-1.3373571


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