War on Ireland's unborn 2016

We have just entered 2016 but there are already two pro-abortion stories in the news. All such reports must currently be viewed as part of the propaganda spewed out by political parties and others in the lead up to the upcoming general election. One of the saddest things is that these people can so callously play with human life as though it is of no consequence. They have bought into the lie that there is such a right, as the right to choose,  the right to choose to kill another human being.

First we were told on the very first day of the new year that two leading liberal Fine Gael ministers have committed to addressing abortion in 2016 — with or without the Labour Party in government.  The two, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe are both reported to have said Fine Gael did not need Labour in order to progress the issue.

This was clearly an attempt to tell the electorate that they are just as liberal on this crucial issue as the Labour party and by so doing to remove any possible advantage that Labour may gain from being perceived as the only pro-abortion party.

Then on day 4 of the new year we have been told that the new Master of the Rotunda Professor Fergal Malone has called for change in Ireland’s laws on abortion.

 We can predict that this is only the beginning and that in the lead up to the election we will have the pro-abortion industry, the media, pro-abortion organisations and politicians all howling for change in Ireland’s Constitution.

Pro-life organisations and politicians will have an uphill battle to retain the remaining level of protection of unborn human life.

Clearly one cannot vote for pro-abortion politicians and it is therefore vital that a complete list of pro-life politicians be made available prior to polling.

It is also imperative that people ask general election candidates where they stand on this issue. This issue is too important to fudge.

Pro-abortion forces demand removal of remaining protection of unborn life in Ireland

We reported in June that relentless pressure is being exerted by pro abortion forces, in the lead up to the next general election in Ireland, to remove Ireland’s remaining protection for unborn babies.

This pressure is primarily being targeted at the government parties, other political parties and groups and even County Councils.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny, in response to the pressure is reported to have said that Fine Gael’s election manifesto will not commit to holding a referendum on removing the 8th Amendment from the Constitution.

The Labour Party the juniour member of the current coalition has on the other hand signalled it will insist on an abortion referendum if it is to return to Government with Mr Kenny’s party.

The Independent reports that Kenny, speaking at a recent Fine Gael ‘think in’, in Limerick told the media he is not in “favour of abortion on demand” but is open to listening to arguments for changing the current laws governing abortion.

“I have no intention of abolishing the 8th Amendment without considering what it might be that might replace it and that means more than any other sensitive issue. I am quite prepared to listen to people who have contributions to make in that regard,” he said.

He added: "But believe me, to commit to abolishing the 8th Amendment without consideration of what you might do is not on my radar."

When pushed Mr Kenny insisted he was not committing to “any referendum”.

"Fine Gael in the preparation of its own Fine Gael programme will consider this matter very carefully along with a number of other sensitive issues as well,” he added.

The pressure being exerted at County Council level resulted this week in a significant defeat for the pro-abortion lobby in Limerick .

According to an article in the Limerick Leader, county councillors voted by almost two to one against a motion calling for a referendum to repeal the eighth - or “right to life” - amendment in the constitution.

The motion was defeated by 23 votes to 12. There were five councillors absent.

Take note that Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he is willing to listen to people who have contributions to make so let's ensure that he gets those contributions. He can be contacted at, taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie 

Call from Europe for Taoiseach to respect conscientious objection of Fine Gael Party members

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his Fine Gael Party have been challenged by their European partners to respect freedom of conscience, according to a letter from The President of the European Peoples Party (EPP) in the Council of Europe Mr. Luca Volontè

See text of letter here:

                                      

                                                                                                Milano, 9 luglio 2013

Dear Taoiseach,

I am concerned that Fine Gael is not allowing a free vote on the above Bill. Though familiar with the arguments that the Bill will be restrictive, etc., my concern about the manner in which the conscience rights of Fine Gael parliamentarians have been infringed is valid regardless of the merits or otherwise of the legislation.

The values of the EPP are well known, and are based on fundamental, interdependent and universally applicable values, including freedom and responsibility. These values reflect our respect for fundamental human rights. Laws must evolve on the basis of universal respect for man's fundamental and undeniable rights, as defined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man, the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union as confirmed in the Lisbon Treaty of 2009. Each of these human rights charters gives prominence to the right of freedom of conscience and thought.

Article 115 of the EPP Party Platform Document adopted by Fine Gael at the EPP Statutory Congress, Bucharest, Romania, 17-18 October 2012, under the heading Freedom and Responsibility, explicitly states: "We consider that it is necessary to respect the right of conscientious objection." The right of conscientious objection is particularly engaged in matters - such as abortion - concerning the fundamental value of all human life (see Article 228 of the EPP Party Platform Document).

Our values should guide the political order (Article 133) and political parties must function in conformity with the rules of internal democracy (Article 229). This surely includes respect for the conscientious integrity of party members.

Respect for freedom of conscience would be meaningless if it applied only to the consciences of those with whom we agree. It is truly tested and demonstrated when respect is shown to the consciences of those with whom we disagree. The judgment of a number of your Fine Gael colleagues that they cannot in good conscience vote in favour of the proposed legislation is one that ought to be respected.

You may not agree with their assessment of the Bill, and its likely consequences. You stated, however, in your speech in Dail Eireann on July l, that if you thought for one moment that this Bill would lead to the creation of a liberal abortion regime in Ireland you would not ask the House to endorse it. And yet Fine Gael parliamentarians are being forced, upon pain of expulsion from their party, to support the Bill despite their sincere belief that the Bill may well usher abortion into Ireland.

To impose such severe penalties on colleagues for voting in accordance with their consciences on such a fundamental matter is alien to the basic values of the EPP.

I hope and trust that you will reconsider, and that Fine Gael will live up to the values that we all profess to share.

Yours sincerely, Luca Volontè

Honorary President EPP Group at PACE Former Chair of EPP Group at PACE Council of Europe

Ireland's pro-abortion legislation passes first hurdle with huge majority: Sad, Sad day for Irish babies

The first vote on Ireland’s pro-abortion legislation took place on Tuesday July 2^nd. 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.

Up to 10 heroic members of Fine Gael Party poised to defy party whip and vote against Irish Government pro-abortion legislation

The Independent reports that Lucinda Creighton could lead up to 10 rebels from Fine Gael over abortion bill

According to the report European Affairs Minister Lucinda Creighton is poised to lead a string of Fine Gael TDs in voting against the Government's abortion bill.

The report which can be accessed on this link continues below  

It means as many as 10 Fine Gael deputies could lose the party whip, a rebellion that would put a huge dent in its parliamentary ranks.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has rejected suggestions of major changes to the contentious legislation – which could spark the biggest Dail rebellion in living memory.

Mr Kenny has informed some TDs they will not be Fine Gael candidates in the next election if they defy the party whip.

Senior government sources admit they could lose as many as 10 TDs, but say the more likely figure is six.

The fallout could reduce the number of Fine Gael TDs from its current level of 74 to as low as 64 – although the Government would still have a comfortable majority. Four TDs have already committed to voting against the bill, while as many as six more are waiting for their concerns to be met as the legislation goes through the Oireachtas over the next fortnight.

Ms Creighton made a strident speech in the Dail that could ultimately see her split from the Fine Gael parliamentary part and lose her ministerial job.

Ms Creighton said "Fine Gael was a party which unashamedly defended the right to life and issued repeated statements to that effect over the years, including stridently in advance of the last general election".

She said she did not want to "give up" on the Government's work for economic recovery, but she was "making a decision on life and death".

"All I can do . . . is consult my conscience, which is based on my sense of what is right and what is wrong. What else can I consult?"

Internal Fine Gael exchanges are becoming increasingly bitter, with Justice Minister Alan Shatter describing some of Ms Creighton's claims as "extraordinary", while backbenchers accused the whip system of "bullying".

Some Fine Gael TDs who have difficulties with the issue of suicide as grounds for abortion acknowledged that Mr Kenny has already shut down the prospect of substantial changes to the bill. Ms Creighton asked for the suicide clause to be removed, but Mr Kenny said: "This is not possible, and would, in my view, be counterproductive."

LIBERAL

Mr Kenny also rejected calls for confirmation of a legal term limit for abortion, and sought to allay fears the legislation could lead to a liberal abortion regime.

"If I, as a person who is opposed to abortion, thought for one moment that this bill would lead to a liberal abortion regime in Ireland, I would not be asking the House to enact it," he said.

As the most senior TD to express major reservations, Ms Creighton's stance could also encourage others to defy party bosses and she has become a focal point for potential rebels.

Deputies Peter Mathews, Brian Walsh, Terence Flanagan and Billy Timmins have already said they will vote against the Government, while others like Ms Creighton, John Paul Phelan, John O'Mahony, James Bannon, Michelle Mulherin, Sean Conlan and Ray Butler are waiting to see if the bill can still be changed or clarified.

Some wavering TDs feel they can secure some changes before the final vote ahead of the Dail recess later this month.

Other TDs whose support for the bill was thought to be in doubt – such as Damien English and Peter Fitzpatrick – have since indicated they will back it.

The first vote on the bill will be this evening, but many will vote it through at this stage before making a final call once the legislation has gone through the Oireachtas Health Committee, when amendments can be tabled.

Health Minister James Reilly met numerous TDs – including Ms Creighton – yesterday to discuss their concerns, but sources said he did not give any indications of changing the legislation substantially.

Ms Creighton, who asked for other substantial changes, flew to Strasbourg last night with Mr Kenny for his European Parliament speech, wrapping up the Irish Presidency of the EU.