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Irish abortion bill sparks marathon 24-hour debate in the Dáil Irish abortion bill sparks marathon 24-hour debate in the Dáil
(2 months later)
Despite threats of excommunication from cardinals and bishops, a privately devout Catholic prime minister is on the verge of introducing limited abortion into Ireland for the first time in the Republic's existence.Despite threats of excommunication from cardinals and bishops, a privately devout Catholic prime minister is on the verge of introducing limited abortion into Ireland for the first time in the Republic's existence.
Enda Kenny and his coalition government are on course to push through the Protection of Life in Pregnancy bill [PDF] on Thursday evening, to allow for abortions when a woman's life is under threat if her pregnancy continues or if she is suicidal.Enda Kenny and his coalition government are on course to push through the Protection of Life in Pregnancy bill [PDF] on Thursday evening, to allow for abortions when a woman's life is under threat if her pregnancy continues or if she is suicidal.
But the legislation passing through the Dàil after 24 hours of torturous debate will not stop the the thousands of women who travel each year from Ireland to Britain for an abortion.But the legislation passing through the Dàil after 24 hours of torturous debate will not stop the the thousands of women who travel each year from Ireland to Britain for an abortion.
According to Irish Department of Health figures released on the same day as the debate, around 4,000 Irish women travelled to British hospitals and clinics to terminate their pregnancies last year. They included 124 who were under the age of 18.According to Irish Department of Health figures released on the same day as the debate, around 4,000 Irish women travelled to British hospitals and clinics to terminate their pregnancies last year. They included 124 who were under the age of 18.
Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) chief executive Niall Behan said the figures "mask the hardship experienced by women who are denied access to abortion services in Ireland".Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) chief executive Niall Behan said the figures "mask the hardship experienced by women who are denied access to abortion services in Ireland".
On Thursday, the Dublin High Court also refused to grant an injunction aimed at stopping provisions of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill being voted into law, just hours before the matter returned to the Dáil. The parliamentary debate was not due to resume until 5pm with over 100 of 165 proposed amendments to the bill still being debated.On Thursday, the Dublin High Court also refused to grant an injunction aimed at stopping provisions of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill being voted into law, just hours before the matter returned to the Dáil. The parliamentary debate was not due to resume until 5pm with over 100 of 165 proposed amendments to the bill still being debated.
Enda Kenny who has described himself as a Catholic but "not a Catholic Taoiseach" said if the bill could conclude on Thursday night, "so much the better". If the bill does not now complete its planned passage through the Dáil, the debate is expected to resume on Friday.Enda Kenny who has described himself as a Catholic but "not a Catholic Taoiseach" said if the bill could conclude on Thursday night, "so much the better". If the bill does not now complete its planned passage through the Dáil, the debate is expected to resume on Friday.
The manner in which the government has tried to introduce the historic legislation came under fire from the main opposition party Fianna Fail. Its leader Micháel Martin described the organisation of the overnight debate as "shambolic" and "lamentable" given that it concluded at 5am on Thursday without a decisive vote.The manner in which the government has tried to introduce the historic legislation came under fire from the main opposition party Fianna Fail. Its leader Micháel Martin described the organisation of the overnight debate as "shambolic" and "lamentable" given that it concluded at 5am on Thursday without a decisive vote.
Regardless of the criticism of the way the bill has gone through the Dáil it appears highly likely it will be made into law. The Government easily won the first two Dáil votes on amendments to the bill. The first was on Amendment 8, which effectively called for the deletion of the suicide clause. The second vote was on Amendment 10, which deals with fatal foetal abnormalities. Both were defeated with heavy majorities.Regardless of the criticism of the way the bill has gone through the Dáil it appears highly likely it will be made into law. The Government easily won the first two Dáil votes on amendments to the bill. The first was on Amendment 8, which effectively called for the deletion of the suicide clause. The second vote was on Amendment 10, which deals with fatal foetal abnormalities. Both were defeated with heavy majorities.
Although critics from the left have accused the Fine Gael and Labour parties of not going far enough, the expected passing of the bill does mark another defeat for the temporal power of the Catholic Church in Ireland.Although critics from the left have accused the Fine Gael and Labour parties of not going far enough, the expected passing of the bill does mark another defeat for the temporal power of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
The outgoing leader of Ireland's Catholics, Cardinal Sean Brady, held out in May for the possibility of banning Irish parliamentarians from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for the bill. However, Dr Brady's own influence has been severely dented after he was caught up in the deluge of paedophile priest scandals that have undermined the church's authority in Ireland.The outgoing leader of Ireland's Catholics, Cardinal Sean Brady, held out in May for the possibility of banning Irish parliamentarians from receiving Holy Communion if they voted for the bill. However, Dr Brady's own influence has been severely dented after he was caught up in the deluge of paedophile priest scandals that have undermined the church's authority in Ireland.
Brady was forced to issue a public apology last year to a man who revealed that the cardinal failed to report to police and parents a list of children who were being abused by the notorious paedophile priest, Father Brendan Smyth. Brady was the Catholic church's notetaker during a secret meeting in 1975 between Brendan Boland, then 14, and senior clerics after the boy made allegations about Smyth.Brady was forced to issue a public apology last year to a man who revealed that the cardinal failed to report to police and parents a list of children who were being abused by the notorious paedophile priest, Father Brendan Smyth. Brady was the Catholic church's notetaker during a secret meeting in 1975 between Brendan Boland, then 14, and senior clerics after the boy made allegations about Smyth.
Boland's father accompanied him to the meeting, but was not allowed into the hearing between senior clergy and the boy. Father Smyth went on to abuse hundreds of children in orphanages, parishes and hospitals both in Ireland and abroad.Boland's father accompanied him to the meeting, but was not allowed into the hearing between senior clergy and the boy. Father Smyth went on to abuse hundreds of children in orphanages, parishes and hospitals both in Ireland and abroad.
Since the exposure of more clerical paedophiles and revelations that the Catholic hierarchy covered up various scandals, Irish politicians have been less fearful of being denounced from the pulpit, which in the past would have been fatal for their careers in one of the Vatican's most favoured and loyal nations.Since the exposure of more clerical paedophiles and revelations that the Catholic hierarchy covered up various scandals, Irish politicians have been less fearful of being denounced from the pulpit, which in the past would have been fatal for their careers in one of the Vatican's most favoured and loyal nations.
The Fine Gael-Labour government, though, was not so much prompted by a new sense of defiance of the Catholic clergy and Rome, but rather a series of court cases in Dublin and Strasbourg.The Fine Gael-Labour government, though, was not so much prompted by a new sense of defiance of the Catholic clergy and Rome, but rather a series of court cases in Dublin and Strasbourg.
In 1992 the Irish Supreme Court ruled abortion should be allowed if there was a threat to a mother's life, including suicide. The ruling was connected to the case taken by a 14 year old rape victim who became pregnant and was initially refused permission to travel outside the Republic for an abortion. Twenty one years later that ruling will now be enshrined in Irish law.In 1992 the Irish Supreme Court ruled abortion should be allowed if there was a threat to a mother's life, including suicide. The ruling was connected to the case taken by a 14 year old rape victim who became pregnant and was initially refused permission to travel outside the Republic for an abortion. Twenty one years later that ruling will now be enshrined in Irish law.
Ireland was also under pressure after a European Court of Human Rights ruling that a woman in remission with cancer was discriminated against because she was forced to travel overseas for a termination.Ireland was also under pressure after a European Court of Human Rights ruling that a woman in remission with cancer was discriminated against because she was forced to travel overseas for a termination.
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