Ireland – Coveney: ‘I approach the abortion issue from a pro-life perspective, but we need to end the status quo’

Coveney: 'I approach the abortion issue from a pro-life perspective, but we need to end the status quo'
For the first time, the Tánaiste speaks of his family’s own personal tragedy in pregnancy.

TÁNAISTE SIMON COVENEY has said he still approaches the issue of abortion from a “pro-life perspective” but believes the status quo can no longer remain in Ireland.

In an interview with TheJournal.ie about how he came to form his views on the abortion issue ahead of the upcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment, the Cork TD spoke for the first time about his family’s own personal tragedy in pregnancy.

Continued: http://www.thejournal.ie/simon-coveney-interview-abortion-referendum-3996392-May2018/

06.05.2018

Irish Centre for Bio-ethical Reform

Ireland – Coveney reveals what convinced him to back abortion

Coveney reveals what convinced him to back abortion

Ralph Riegel
April 30 2018

Tánaiste Simon Coveney revealed he dramatically changed his position on potential post-Eighth Amendment legislation following an emotional private meeting with a young woman who had gone through a crisis pregnancy.

The Cork TD said he "confronted myself" over the potential aftermath of the amendment's repeal.

Continued: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/abortion-referendum/coveney-reveals-what-convinced-him-to-back-abortion-36857139.html

30.04.2018

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Tánaiste: Undecided voters will swing abortion referendum

Tánaiste: Undecided voters will swing abortion referendum

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Simon Coveney said undecided voters will swing next month's 8th Amendment Referendum.

He said the law the government is proposing is far from abortion on demand - but he is concerned attempts will be made to 'frighten' undecided voters in the weeks ahead.

Continued: https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/tanaiste-undecided-voters-will-swing-abortion-referendum-839834.html

Ireland -Tánaiste says those undecided on repeal may be frightened into No vote

Tánaiste says those undecided on repeal may be frightened into No vote
Yes campaign must convince voters that the status quo is no longer acceptable

April 28, 2018
Barry Roche

The Tánaiste has expressed concern that those campaigning to retain the Eighth Amendment may try to frighten undecided voters into voting No if they have any doubts about the proposal.

Simon Coveney predicted that undecided voters, which he estimated as being about 30 per cent of the electorate,would decide the outcome of the May 25th referendum.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/t%C3%A1naiste-says-those-undecided-on-repeal-may-be-frightened-into-no-vote-1.3477946

Ireland – Battle on doorsteps reveals different truths for Yes and No campaigns

Battle on doorsteps reveals different truths for Yes and No campaigns
Both sides in abortion referendum believe they have the edge. How can both be right?

April 27, 2018
Harry McGee

When you ask Joe Walsh, a No campaigner, when he started canvassing for the referendum on the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, his response takes you aback. “We started three years ago,” he says, matter-of-factly, “and have not stopped since then.”

Although the media spotlight over the past five years has been mostly on the evolution of the referendum to decide whether to repeal the amendment, which bans abortion in almost all circumstances, anti-abortion campaigners have not been idle, as is immediately apparent outside Dublin. The No campaign was first to put up its posters, and it has big canvassing teams, in which young women tend to be to the fore, in most parts of the State.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-referendum/battle-on-doorsteps-reveals-different-truths-for-yes-and-no-campaigns-1.3476881

Why are Irish journalists again missing a movement?

Una Mullally: Why are Irish journalists again missing a movement?
Media appears unable to interpret political movements formed outside traditional party structures

Mon, Apr 16, 2018
Una Mullally

We are at that moment in a referendum campaign where stories, takes, and points of view need to be generated as commentary. Some will be insightful, others less so. Some will be deliberately provocative, some will be more concentrated on facts. Some will fulfil the most tedious trope in journalism, where criticism will be levelled at a campaign by those who substitute expertise and experience for a “hunch”.

There are more than two opposing campaigns under way, of course, multiple campaigns – particularly on the pro-repeal side – emerging from grassroots activism and active citizenship. As the media narratives weave themselves in knots, what I find especially interesting is how this referendum campaign is frequently compared to the marriage equality referendum campaign. Generally, this comparison follows two narratives.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/una-mullally-why-are-irish-journalists-again-missing-a-movement-1.3462385

Ireland – Government may not be able ‘to pass abortion legislation’

Government may not be able ‘to pass abortion legislation’
Simon Harris says any reforms after Eighth Amendment vote could be disrupted by an election

April 1, 2018
Sarah Bardon

Minister for Health Simon Harris has said he cannot guarantee that legislation allowing for abortion would be passed by the current Government in the event the Eighth Amendment is repealed.

A referendum on repealing Article 40.3.3, also known as the Eighth Amendment, is to take place on May 25th. The Amendment gives an equal right to life to the mother and the unborn.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/government-may-not-be-able-to-pass-abortion-legislation-1.3447461

Ireland – Simon Coveney: My indecision on abortion is final (I think)

Simon Coveney: My indecision on abortion is final (I think)
Simon Coveney is suffering brickbats for changing his mind on abortion. Is this only a personal crisis, or does it reflect a split in the government, asks Stephen O’Brien

Stephen O’Brien, Political Editor
April 1 2018

The headline in the Irish Examiner confirmed that all was not well in Cork. “Coveney plan for legal lock in tatters,” the newspaper declared on Wednesday as the tanaiste, a local TD, made the news for the third day running.

“Tanaiste Simon Coveney has been left humiliated after his two-thirds Dail majority legal-lock plan for the government’s post-referendum abortion law was labelled unconstitutional, naive and deeply damaging to the ‘yes’ campaign,” the Examiner railed.

Continued: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/simon-coveney-my-indecision-on-abortion-is-final-i-think-qjxq07h2p

Ireland – Harris dismisses Coveney’s claims of scans before terminations

Harris dismisses Coveney’s claims of scans before terminations
Minister for Health insisted any need for scan will be based on doctors’ discretion
March 29, 2018

Sarah Bardon

The Government has distanced itself from claims by Tánaiste Simon Coveney that women seeking a termination after nine weeks of pregnancy will have to undergo a scan.

Mr Coveney had outlined his expectation that the operation of an abortion regime would be coupled with medical guidelines and these would include a requirement for a scan between nine and 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/harris-dismisses-coveney-s-claims-of-scans-before-terminations-1.3443640

29.03.2018

Referendum Commission

Simon Coveney

Simon Harris

ultrasound scans for abortion

Ireland – Coveney’s very public agonising on abortion issue helps both sides

Coveney’s very public agonising on abortion issue helps both sides
Tánaiste’s vacillations reflect much middle-ground opinion on referendum

Wed, Mar 28, 2018
Pat Leahy

Many politicians are struggling with their consciences to come to a settled position on abortion. None is doing it quite so publicly as the second most senior member of the Government.

Simon Coveney’s U-turn earlier this week on the Government’s proposal to legislate for abortion on request up to 12 weeks if the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment is passed caught his colleagues by surprise. But most of them – the majority back repeal, anyway – were not displeased. At least the Tánaiste was now on board.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/coveney-s-very-public-agonising-on-abortion-issue-helps-both-sides-1.3442431

28.03.2018