Tag: abortion rights

Outside the Dáil today (25.5.21), I was proud to stand with the Campaign Against Church Ownership of Women’s Healthcare. We reiterated the demand that the new National Maternity Hospital must be free of church control. I also called for the review of Abortion legislation, now due, to make sure that abortion services are available to women right across the country. We’ve waited long enough! In case people aren’t aware, The Sisters of Charity is one of 18 residential institutions that is highlighted by the Ryan report 2009 to have been responsible for child abuse. They still owe €3 million to the redress scheme for its survivors. The Sisters of Charity, along with three other religious congregations, were responsible for the management of Magdalene Laundries. In 2013 they stated they would not be making ANY contributions to the State redress scheme to the women who had been subject abuse in the Magdalene Laundries. Originally, the Department of Health wanted to give them ‘sole’ ownership of the new €300 million State-funded National Maternity Hospital. Now the Department are being very vague as to how ownership and control of the NMH will be handled. The Campaign Against Church Ownership of Women’s Healthcare is determined that the NMH will be secular and publicly owned and run. People Before Profit fully supports this demand.

The committe stage, where we debate amendments to the proposed abortion legislation, is frustrating to say the least. Anti abortionists want to rehash the argument (that they spectacularly lost 2:1 in May). But its also frustrating when some amendments are ruled ‘in’, and others ‘out’ of order. Like one today, from Carol Nolan who wants to bill a woman for an abortion unless she’s dying. The other issue addressed in this video is criminality. 14 years for vasectomy? Of course not, so why would they even consider it for abortion. Criminality has no place in health legislation. We debated this at the Committee today. 6.11.18

 

Proud to march with great young PBP comrades on the March for Choice yesterday. True, we won the referendum, but we have to make sure there is no foot-dragging, no short-changing of rights hard won. That’s why we marched.

 

We won repeal; but the battle isnt over; We need the legislation to give real access to abortion services for all women and that means we need thousands on the streets on Sept 29th ,2pm at Parnell Sq for the March for Choice. Yesterday the Dail’s health committee discussed guidlines on abortion services; The bigger the March on Sept 29 the louder the message to Harris and Co that we wont tolerate a 72 hour wait or any attempt to give GPs the right to refuse to refer on.