The private members bill introduced by Clare Daly, in an
attempt to expand availability of abortion in Ireland to include babies with
life limiting conditions, was defeated on Tuesday by 104 votes to 20. It would be foolish to take comfort from the
result on the basis that the government could not vote in favour of a bill they had been advised was unconstitutional.
This was a cynical move by pro-abortion forces and a
compliant media in manipulating public opinion. Clare Daly knew perfectly well
that her private members bill was unconstitutional and could not be accepted by
the Government in the absence of a referendum. The bill was designed to take
aim at 40.3.3 of the Irish constitution with a view to putting pressure the
Irish Government to hold a referendum.
There is no doubt that Daly mounted an effective campaign
judging by the fact that many of those who voted against it expressed sympathy
with its objectives, including the Minister for Health Leo Varadkar. Three members of the Fianna Fail party also
voted for it, including the health and justice spokesmen.
There is growing pressure from the pro-abortion side to
remove Article 40.3.3 from the Irish Constitution which would inevitably lead
to abortion on demand. Taoiseach Enda Kenny however says he is not prepared to
have another divisive abortion referendum at the present time. It is likely
however to be an issue in the next election and afterwards.
Daly argued the bill on compassionate grounds but everyone
knows she supports abortion on demand up to birth and will do everything
possible to further her deadly agenda.
Daly’s approach ignores the hundreds of women who decide to
give life a chance and allow their babies to live as long as they possibly
can. It is also very hurtful to such
women when Daly and her colleagues describe their babies as ‘non-viable’ and
‘incompatible with life’.
Sadly the unfortunate women who had been encouraged to
terminate the lives of unborn babies suffering from life limiting conditions
were used in the process.
