The first vote on Ireland’s pro-abortion legislation took
place on Tuesday July 2nd. The Protection of Life during Pregnancy
Bill passed its first hurdle by 138 votes to 24 with both cross-party support
and cross-party opposition, allowing the bill to move to committee stage during
which amendments
will now be considered.
The initial numbers were not encouraging from a pro-life
perspective with 138 deputies supporting the pro-abortion legislation and only
24 voting against it.
It now appears that the only possibilities for halting this
juggernaut are either a major change of heart or a successful legal challenge.
Four Fine Gael TDs voted against the legislation for reasons
of conscientious objection with up to six more poised to do so if suitable
amendments are not accepted during the upcoming stages if the Bill.
The four Fine Gael deputies who voted against the bill now
face expulsion from the parliamentary party and removal from the committees on
which they serve.
Thirteen Fianna Fáil TDs out of a total of 19 voted against
the bill – they were the only party allowed a free vote. The party leader
Micheal Martin was in a minority on the issue raising question marks about his leadership.
Just one Sinn Féin TD voted against the bill, Peadar Tóibín,
who had previously voiced the fact he did not support the bill. Six independent
TD’s also opposed the bill.
The legislation is now before the Health Committee where
members will be able to table amendments, 89 of which have already been
published, before the bill returns to the Dáil at some stage next week.
