Excellent letter in the Connaught Telegraph

Sir,
In a time when politicians get criticised for following the party line without question, I was very pleased that some members of Fine Gael stood up recently and said they were not going to accept abortion.
I'm referring to this month's meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party when a number of Fine Gael representatives challenged the Minister for Health and vowed to vote against abortion legislation.
I was especially glad to see Mayo Fine Gael TD John O'Mahony listed among those who spoke up on this issue.
Based on his defense of the unborn so far I would have no difficulty either voting for him or asking others to vote for him in a future election.
While it seems that Ireland remains an overwhelmingly pro-life country, according to consistent Millward Brown Lansdowne opinion polling, there does seem to be bias among the national media that favours legislating for abortion.
Over 79 per cent of people in Mayo want Fine Gael to keep their pre-election promise. That is considerably more than the 65 per cent that voted for Fine Gael in the last election.
In the same election the pro-abortion Labour party got less than five per cent of the vote. Clearly the people of Mayo support women who are pregnant and they want to see the law reflect this.
I was shocked to see that some member of the Labour party were critical of the Fine Gael TDs and senators. The fact that the Fine Gael party made a pro-life commitment to the Pro Life Campaign prior to the general election is laudable and the fact the Fine Gael deputies feel that they should honour their promise is something Fine Gael should be proud of.
The many arguments that are presented for abortion in Ireland, that it is available in Britain, that is necessary to save the life of pregnant mothers, etc., are all shallow and easily refuted. Women in Ireland receive all necessary medical treatment, even if it indirectly results in the death of the unborn child. This is not abortion because it is not a deliberate attack on the unborn child.
It continues to be a tragedy that Irish women travel for abortions and it's a scandal that women do so because they do not feel they have adequate supports in Ireland.
I hope our politicians will continue to see the need to offer women more and better support services when they are faced with a crisis pregnancy.
Without the right to life, all other rights are meaningless. I congratulate the Fine Gael deputies on their stance and hope that the rest of the Fine Gael party follows suit.
Yours sincerely,
Tom Ryan
Castlebar

Appointment of abortion campaigner as Director General of HSE sends wrong message

Today Tony O'Brien was appointed the new Director General of the HSE by The Minister for Health James Reilly.  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 Cora Sherlock, Deputy Chairperson of the Pro Life Campaign, 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.”

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin supports pro-life position, opposes X legislation

In an article in today's Irish Examiner, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin says that legislation to allow abortion along the lines of the X case would effectively lead to abortion on demand.

His comments come after 15 Fine Gael TDs told Health Minister Dr. James Reilly that they opposed any moves to legalise abortion. 


In a statement this afternoon, the Pro Life Campaign's spokeperson, Dr. Ruth Cullen, said that Martin's comments were "timely and welcome" and "acknowledged the reality of what an Irish abortion regime would look like after legislation".

Fianna Fáil party leader Micheál Martin

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 Micheál 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.

Mr. Martin said "I think we should do everything we possibly can to preserve the life of the unborn and preserve the life of the mother. And I think we do that in Ireland, actually. "

Dr. Cullen welcomed this, saying "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." 

Pro Life Campaign challenges Deputy Lynch over remarks on abortion legislation

The Pro Life Campaign has challenged the Minister of State at the Department for Health Kathleen Lynch over her remarks yesterday 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.

Junior Minister Kathleen Lynch, Labour

 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." 

Dr. Cullen's comments were carried in today's Irish Examier, Irish Times and on TheJournal.ie.

Fine Gael parliamentary party "overwhelmingly opposed to liberalisation of the abortion laws"

Today's Irish Times carries a report from Harry McGee on last night's Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, where at least 15 TDs voiced their opposition to abortion legislation. 

This is a welcome development for pro-life voters around the country who voted for Fine Gael in General Election 2011 because of their commitment not to legislate for abortion or experimentation on human embryos. 

The discussion on abortion came at the end of a presentation by Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly, on the HSE, when Waterford TD John Deasy raised the matter. 

The article says that "Concerns had been raised within Fine Gael in recent weeks that the Cabinet would make a decision on the report of the expert group, chaired by High Court judge Seán Ryan, and present it to Fine Gael as a 'done deal'." 

In the discussion at the parliamentary party meeting, 15 TDs said that they would oppose legislation that would introduce abortion, insisting that the findings of the expert group be discussed with them before being brought to the Cabinet. Two TDs even indicated that they were willing to break whip on the issue. 

One of the TDs described the Fine Gael parliamentary party as "overwhelmingly opposed to liberalisation of the abortion laws". 

The discussion resulted in Dr. Reilly giving a guarantee that he would consult the parliamentary party before bringing the findings of the expert group to the Cabinet. 


Read Harry McGee's report in full here. 

Pro Life Campaign launch billboards highlighting latest opinion poll findings

This week we've launched a billboard campaign highlighting the findings of our most recent opinion poll, conducted by Millward Brown Landsdowne in May 2012. 

This polling research 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.

Have you seen a billboard in your area or on your commute?
E-mail a picture to  mail@prolifecampaign.ie 

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.

English health service regulator finds 14 NHS abortion clinics flouting rules of Abortion Act 1967.

The Care Quality Commission in Britain has found 14 abortion clinics on the National Health Service breaking rules and also found "irregularities" at some clinics.

According to the Care Quality Commission, the 14 clinics were found breaking rules by allowing doctors to pre-sign forms authorising abortions, which does not comply to The Abortion Act 1967. The Abortion Act 1967 requires a form (HSA1) certifying that the requirements for a termination have been met to be signed by two doctors before the procedure takes place. The practice in the 14 abortion clinics meant that in reality only one doctor was making the decision.

The Care Quality Commission was instructed by the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to investigate the practice of pre-signed HSA1 forms. The inspections were unannounced and took place in March 2012. 

The inspections follow private investigations by The Telegraph in February 2012, which also showed doctors to pre-sign HSA1 forms. The Telegraph’s investigation also found abortion clinics were flouting the law by allowing women to terminate their pregnancies on the basis of the unborn child’s gender.

The 14 abortion clinics found to be in breach of the law are now complying with the Abortion Act, the Care Quality Commission says. All have now taken steps including internal audits and staff training to ensure continued compliance.