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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Pro Life Campaign welcomes decision of Donegal County Council to reject abortion

The Pro Life Campaign has welcomed yesterday's decision by Donegal County Council to reject abortion.  A motion debated at the Councilmeeting held in Lifford read as follows:

In keeping with the will of the Irish people, as emphatically expressed in the referendum of 1983, Donegal County Council opposes any form of legalisation of abortion in any circumstances

The motion was resoundingly passed by 17 votes in favour to just one vote against.  There were six abstentions.

Commenting on the result of the vote, Pro Life Campaign spokesperson Cora Sherlock said:

'The members of Donegal County Council have shown that they recognise that Ireland, without abortion is the safest country for women when pregnant. It is a tribute to the Councillors that they have seen through the misinformation that is currently being spread suggesting that that Ireland is obliged to introduce abortion.  This is simply not the case.  The people of Donegal should be proud of their local representatives for championing the rights of the most vulnerable members of society'.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Pro Life Campaign says new HSE appointment sends the wrong message on abortion



The Minister for Health James Reilly today appointed Mr Tony O’Brien as the new Director General of the HSE.  Mr O'Brien was previously the Chief Executive of the Irish Family Planning Association and a leading campaigner for abortion in Ireland.

Commenting on the Minister for Health’s latest appointment, Pro Life Campaign spokesperson, Cora Sherlock said:

“Ever since the Clare Daly Bill on abortion, Minister Reilly has been effectively relying on the speaking notes of the pro-abortion movement rather than defending Fine Gael’s pre-election pro-life commitments.

“Now he has appointed someone as Director General of the HSE who has spent most of his career campaigning for abortion on demand in Ireland. The political message sent by this appointment is unmistakable. Whether it’s the issue or the optics, clearly Minister Reilly doesn’t get it.

“Of more concern, however, to pro-life supporters is the manner in which the Expert Group process initiated by the Minister is descending into farce.

“Both Minister Reilly and Minister of State Kathleen Lynch have already made public statements pre-empting its findings and it will come as no surprise if it reports back with a narrow list of options all advocating abortion. If this happens, it will have nothing to do with women’s health or the right to life and everything to do with politics.”


Martin statement re abortion legislation "timely and welcome" say Pro Life Campaign


Fianna Fáil leader Michéal Martin's made comments the other day, in which he said that legislation to allow abortion along the lines of the X case would effectively lead to abortion on demand "are timely and welcome", the Pro Life Campaign (PLC) have said.

In a statement, PLC spokesperson Dr Ruth Cullen said that Mr Martin's remarks "acknowledged the reality of what an Irish abortion regime would look like after legislation".

Dr Cullen said: "The past week has been heartening for those who still believe that when political parties make promises, they should stick by them.

"Last week we saw a significant number of Fine Gael TDs and Senators remind their party leadership of their election pledge to stand up for unborn human life. Today we saw Michéal Martin reaffirm his party's commitment to the same principle: that human life must be protected at all stages. Both developments were timely and welcome.

"At a time when Labour politicians are trying to bully the Government into believing the myth that the European court judgement in the  A,B and C v Ireland case obliges Ireland to legalise abortion, we welcome the clarity which both Mr Martin's comments, and the stance taken by backbench Fine Gael TDs, have brought to the debate.

"Mr Martin's statement, that legislation to provide for abortion along the lines of the X case would create "an open-door situation" which would be "very difficult to hold back" acknowledged the reality of what an Irish abortion regime would look like after legislation.

Dr Cullen also welcomed Mr Martin's acknowledgement that current Irish medical practice was about protecting both mother and child.

"Pro-abortion advocates and politicians have repeatedly attempted to obscure the fact that Ireland boasts world class medical care for pregnant women. In this context, Mr Martin's recognition that Irish doctors do everything they can "to preserve the life of the unborn and preserve the life of the mother" is very welcome.

"Ireland has consistently shown itself to be the safest place in the world to give birth in, and international statistics confirm this."

Baseless accusations of “cowardice” harm rational debate on abortion says Pro Life Campaign



The backing of 15 or more Fine Gael TDs and Senators for the party's election pledge to oppose abortion legislation has been described as “a welcome move to support human life and protect women's health,” by the Pro Life Campaign.

In a statement, spokesperson Dr Ruth Cullen said that the strong opposition expressed at the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party “showed that there were still politicians for whom election promises meant something.”

Responding to suggestions from members of the Labour Party that Fine Gael TDs opposed to abortion legislation are guilty of “cowardice”, Dr Cullen said: “It is sad that those on the so-called pro-choice side of the abortion debate are unwilling to allow politicians the choice of opposing abortion on principle. This attitude does nothing to help a calm and rational debate.

“The fact that many politicians remain opposed to abortion shows their commitment to retaining Ireland's pro-life culture and its pro-woman medical practices. It also shows that they are paying attention to the growing body of evidence highlighting the negative effects of abortion on women.

“There was every justification for the criticism of James Reilly’s handling of the issue by his parliamentary party colleagues. The Minister has repeatedly misrepresented the European Court of Human Rights judgement in A, B and C v. Ireland by stating that Ireland was obliged to legislate for abortion on foot of this ruling. He has also given the impression that he expects a very narrow list of options from the Expert Group, all leading to abortion. This is totally unacceptable not least because the X case decision on which any legislation would be based  heard no medical evidence and set no time limits for when an abortion could take place. This would de facto amount to abortion on demand.

“It is remarkable that the legalisation of abortion continues to be portrayed by some as the only 'progressive' and 'courageous' option, when that option entails the killing of an utterly innocent human life.”

Monday, July 23, 2012

Pro Life Campaign challenges Minister Lynch over remarks on abortion



The Pro Life Campaign has challenged the Minister of State at the Department for Health Kathleen Lynch over her remarks today on RTÉ’s This Week programme where she stated that she did not think the Government "had a choice" but to legislate for abortion if the Expert Group, having looked at the issue, recommends abortion legislation.

Commenting on Minister Lynch’s remarks, Dr. Ruth Cullen of the Pro Life Campaign said:
"The Expert Group is tasked with producing a wide range of options for consideration by the Government and is not meant to recommend one particular course of action.   If the Expert Group reports with a narrow list of options, all leading to abortion, it will be not be based on medicine or law but politics.  

"The European court judgment in A, B and C v Ireland did not compel Ireland to introduce abortion.  It sought clarity in the law in this area which is an entirely different matter.  Those seeking to introduce abortion in Ireland are intentionally distorting this fact while ignoring another important fact, namely, that Ireland, without abortion, is the safest place in the world for pregnant women." 

Monday, July 16, 2012

PLC launches new Billboard Campaign

A billboard campaign highlighting the results of a recent Millward Brown Lansdowne opinion poll which found that a large majority of the Irish public believe Fine Gael should keep the pro-life commitment it made prior to the General Election has been launched by the Pro Life Campaign.






Read more and download the poll findings on Pro Life Campaign's website 

Peri-natal hospice care raised in Seanad following important briefing


The issue of peri-natal hospice care (care of mothers and babies where the unborn child has a life-shortening or limiting abnormality diagnosed in utero) was raised in the Seanad earlier this week following a briefing to politicians from a number of parents of children who either died shortly after birth or are living with a serious disability. 

The briefing was co-hosted by Senators Rónán Mullen, Darragh O' Brien, Mary-Ann O'Brien and TDs Regina Doherty and Arthur Spring. It was attended by almost 60 members of the Dáil and Seanad.   In a very moving and thought provoking session, the families present shared their personal experiences of the births and (sometimes short) lives of their children.

Following the briefing, during the Order of Business in the Seanad, several senators including Senator Mary-Ann O’Brien praised the courage of the parents who spoke. She said: “I wish everyone had been there this morning to hear how fragile life is and that we are here to respect human beings. There was great sadness but great dignity portrayed this morning by those wonderful parents.” Other senators called for a debate in the Seanad on the need for better peri-natal hospice care facilities in Ireland. 

Congratulations to Senator Mullen and his Oireachtas colleagues for hosting such an important and extremely well attended briefing.

PLC strongly critical of Fine Gael response on abortion


The Pro Life Campaign has accused Fine Gael of resorting to ‘spin’ in an attempt to fend off criticism of Minister for Health, James Reilly’s statement that Ireland ‘must’ introduce an abortion regime. 

In an email to its TDs and Senators, the Fine Gael press office described last week’s media reports on the Minister for Health as “fundamentally flawed and substantially incorrect.” However, the press office refused to be drawn on where precisely the reports in question were inaccurate.   

In response, the Pro Life Campaign said there “was nothing flawed or incorrect in the newspaper reports. The Minister for Health's statement that abortion ‘must’ be introduced in Ireland was as clear as day.” 

Read more on Pro Life Campaign's website

Friday, July 13, 2012

Pro Life Campaign says Fine Gael need to face up to commitments rather than resorting to spin



The Pro Life Campaign has described as “disgraceful” the fact that Minister for Health James Reilly has begun replying to members of the public that Ireland "must" bring in abortion along the lines of the controversial 'X Case' decision and says this “turns the entire Expert Group on abortion process into a farce.”

In correspondence to fellow TDs and members of the public, Minister Reilly makes it clear that following on from the decision in A, B and C v. Ireland by the European Court of Human Rights, Ireland “must put in place a legislative or regulatory regime providing effective and accessible procedures whereby pregnant women can establish whether or not they are entitled to a lawful abortion in accordance with Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court in the X case.”

Minister Reilly hinted at such an approach during the recent Clare Daly Bill on Abortion in the Dáil but just recently he has become starkly explicit about his plans.

Following the publication of this fact in the Irish Catholic Newspaper last week, the Fine Gael press office, in an e-mail to its TDs and Senators, described the newspaper report on the issue as “fundamentally flawed and substantially incorrect”.   However, the Pro Life Campaign this week insisted there “was nothing flawed or incorrect in the report.  Minister Reilly’s statement that abortion “must” be introduced in Ireland was as clear as day.”

Dr Ruth Cullen said that Dr Reilly’s comments remain “an extremely worrying development that throws into doubt whether Fine Gael will stand over, or betray, its solemn written commitment to the electorate not to bring in abortion.

“Senior members of Fine Gael need to take responsibility for a process that is fast derailing into a public farce with a Fine Gael Minister now publicly touting as official policy that Ireland “must” bring in abortion.

“Fine Gael needs to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation and not try and spin its way out of controversy. As things stand, Minister Reilly has primed the expert group to report back with a narrow list of options, all leading to abortion.”

“This is an outrage given Ireland’s outstanding record in caring for mothers and babies in pregnancy without recourse to abortion,” Dr Cullen said.

It is increasingly clear that the Expert Group process is not about protecting women’s lives but about bringing in abortion. If this is proven correct, the Pro Life Campaign will mount an even more vigorous campaign to ensure that abortion is not brought in under any guise including the one describing it as a ‘medical treatment.’

And it will ensure that every Fine Gael voter the length and breadth of the country is fully informed of any shift in party policy away from its pre-election pro-life commitments.

Public wants Fine Gael to honour its pro-life commitments Pro Life Campaign calls on Minister for Health to clarify Fine Gael’s stance on abortion following Dáil speech



The Pro Life Campaign today released the latest Millward Brown Lansdowne polling research on life issues which shows strong public backing for the pro-life commitments made by Fine Gael prior to the general election in 2011. The research also reveals significant public support for current medical practice in Ireland where there is a duty of care towards the baby when intervening in pregnancy to save the mother’s life.

The research was carried out on a quota controlled sample of 979 people aged 18+ between 2nd – 15th May 2012.

The first question reads:

Just prior to polling day in the 2011 General Election, Fine Gael said it was opposed to the legalisation of abortion and experimentation on human embryos. It said that Fine Gael’s representatives would bring to the proposed all-party committee a clear commitment that women in pregnancy will receive whatever treatments are necessary to safeguard their lives, and the duty of care to preserve the life of the baby will also be upheld.  Would you agree or disagree with this commitment?

Overall, of those who expressed an opinion, 80% agreed with the commitment and 20% disagreed.  In Connacht/Ulster which includes the Taoiseach’s constituency of Mayo, 87% agreed and only 13% disagreed.

The second question was worded as follows:

Current medical practice in Ireland does not allow the deliberate killing of the unborn baby.  In a crisis pregnancy situation, the doctor has a duty of care towards the baby when intervening to save the mother’s life.  Do you consider that this ethical practice should be protected by law?

78% of those who expressed an opinion said it should and 22% disagreed.  There was majority support in all ages, social classes and regions.

Commenting on the poll findings, Dr Berry Kiely of the Pro Life Campaign said: “When the ethical distinction between induced abortion and necessary medical interventions in pregnancy is clarified in polling questions, the true strength of public opposition to abortion is revealed. The latest poll findings bear this out and are immensely reassuring from a pro-life perspective.”

Referring to the speech by Minister for Health, James Reilly in the Dáil during the recent Private Members’ Bill on abortion, Dr Kiely said,  “The Minister for Health’s speech alarmed pro-life supporters and he has a responsibility to clarify his position and that of Fine Gael”.

In his speech Minister Reilly said that the previous six governments had failed to legislate for the X Case decision but that the present Government “will not be the seventh.”

In response to this, Dr Kiely said, “It is clear from the Minister’s remarks that he does not expect the “Expert Group” on abortion to list as one of its options ways of complying with the European Court of Human Rights decision in A, B and C v. Ireland, that afford legal protection to both mother and baby in pregnancy. This completely undermines Fine Gael’s solemn pre-election commitment opposing abortion legislation and pledging that “women in pregnancy will receive whatever treatments are necessary to safeguard their lives and the duty of care to preserve the life of the baby will also be upheld.

“Legislation based on the X Case would amount to abortion on demand as the judges heard no medical evidence and set no time limits for when an abortion could take place. In addition the recent European court decision in A, B and C v. Ireland does not oblige us to introduce an abortion regime.

“Instead of repeating pro-abortion claims, the Minister for Health needs to acknowledge that Ireland, without abortion, is the safest country in the world for pregnant women as recognised by the UN and World Health Organisation. The Minister also needs to clarify Fine Gael’s stance on abortion in light of his recent speech in the Dáil”, Dr Kiely concluded.


PLC welcomes fall in abortion rates for tenth consecutive year. While abortion rates fall, rate of women regretting abortions rise



The Pro Life Campaign has welcomed the latest Irish abortion figures released on the 29th of May 2012, by the British Department of Health,* which show that the number of Irish women travelling to Britain for abortions has decreased for the tenth consecutive year.


In 2011, 4,149 Irish women travelled to Britain for abortions, down from 4,402 in 2010 and 4,422 in 2009.  The 2011 figures show a marked decrease over previous years.  2011 is the tenth consecutive year that Irish abortions have declined and represents a 38% decline since the high of 6,673 Irish abortions in 2001.


The release of these figures follows the recent report ** from the HSE/Crisis Pregnancy Programme showing an increase in the number of women expressing abortion regret.  In that study, 44 per cent of women expressed varying degrees of regret about their abortions up from 33 per cent in a similar HSE study in 2003.


In a statement welcoming the continuing reduction in the number of Irish women travelling to Britain for abortion, Cora Sherlock of the Pro Life Campaign said:


“While it is too early to draw firm conclusions, the fact that the abortion figures are decreasing while the number of women expressing regret after abortion is increasing, shows the need for a much closer examination of women’s experiences of abortion, including abortion regret."


She said: “There has been a refusal on the part of those campaigning for abortion in Ireland to take on board the research indicating the negative consequences of abortion for women. This does a tremendous disservice to women. The claims by some groups that the reduced figures can be explained by the fact that women are travelling to other countries is not backed by the evidence."
 *Summary Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2011 (29/05/12)  ** Irish Contraception and Crisis Pregnancy Study 2010 (ICCP 2010), published in May 2012 (HSE/CPP)

Study showing regret after abortion must be considered by the Minister For Health says Pro Life Campaign



A comprehensive study showing that 44 per cent of women expressed varying degrees of regret about their abortions “must be urgently considered by the Minister for Health”, the Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has said.

They were responding to the Irish Contraception and Crisis Pregnancy Study 2010 (ICCP 2010), produced by the HSE's Crisis Pregnancy Programme (CPP).

The study showed that 31pc of women who had abortion experienced "some regrets", with 13pc reporting that they experienced “a lot of regrets”. This represents an increase from 2003, when 22pc reported experiencing some regret, with 11pc saying they had a lot of regrets.

Spokesperson for the PLC, Dr Ruth Cullen, said the figures showed that the abortion debate “needed to make room for the voices of the increasing number of women who regret their abortion”.

She said: "While there has been considerable media focus on the stories of women who wished to see abortion legal in Ireland, the same cannot be said for the stories of women who regret their abortions. This has to change.

She said: “Even organisations like the National Women's Council of Ireland, which are supposed to represent all women, dismiss organisations that seek to express the pain of women hurt by abortion.

Dr Cullen also said that Minister James Reilly needs to take into account the experiences of women who regretted their abortion and ensure that counselling services also acknowledge this reality.

She expressed surprise that the CPP had not conducted research into the mental health impact of abortion, given the fact that there were now a number of studies showing that abortion presented a considerable risk to the mental health of women.

Dr. Cullen said: “A number of peer reviewed studies have now shown that women who have abortions are up to 30pc more likely to experience subsequent mental health problems. This is even after those studies controlled for women with pre-existing mental health conditions.

“One might have expected a comprehensive study on crisis pregnancy to have examined this area.”

Dr Cullen also noted that the study's findings on attitudes to abortion were compromised by the question asked.

According to the survey, 45 per cent of adults believed abortion should be permissible in all circumstances, down from over 50 per cent in a similar study in 2003. And 44 per cent said it should be available under certain circumstances, up from 39 per cent in 2003.

However, Dr Cullen said, the survey's question relating to abortion when there is a risk to the woman's life “failed to make the distinction between medical interventions in pregnancy to save the mother's life and induced abortion, the sole aim of which is to end the life of the baby.

She said that this shortcoming in the research made the findings on attitudes to abortion “effectively irrelevant”.


Pro Life Campaign says Labour Party abortion stance 'ignores hurt abortion causes women'



A motion passed at  Labour Party's conference (15th April 2012)  in favour of abortion legislation has been described by the Pro Life Campaign (PLC) as “ignoring the hurt that abortion causes women”.
In a statement, PLC spokesperson, Dr Ruth Cullen said that those who spoke in favour of the motion had “tried to imply that legislation would safeguard women’s lives”.
“In fact, the motion was about seeking abortion on demand,” Dr Cullen said.
She added: “Those who supported the motion should know that Ireland, without abortion, is the safest country for pregnant women and that there is a clear distinction between necessary medical treatment in pregnancy and direct abortion, the aim of which is to end the baby’s life.
“Repeatedly, figures from the United Nations on maternal mortality show that Ireland is a world leader in this area. Yet instead of celebrating this achievement, pro-abortion campaigners repeatedly distort the facts.
“The adoption of the motion also shows that the Labour Party is ignoring the hurt that abortion causes women.
“Increasingly, research is showing that abortion is a leading risk factor for increased mental health problems for women.
“Despite this, Labour has assumed an outdated position that refuses to take on board this evidence, or the stories that many women are telling about the trauma that abortion has caused them.”
Dr Cullen added: “There is nothing progressive about adopting a policy that disregards the right to life and ignores the negative effects of abortion on women.
“This latest evidence of Labour’s aggressive stance in favour of abortion makes it all the more imperative that voters hold Fine Gael to their election promise to retain Ireland’s pro-life stance.”
 
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