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THE MAJORITY OF TDs and Senators want to repeal the 8th Amendment to the Constitution, but Fine Gael’s unclear position means many of its elected representatives are remaining silent.
A survey of Oireachtas members, carried out by TheJournal.ie this week, has found that 60% are in favour of repealing the amendment which enshrines the equal right to life of the unborn and the mother in the Constitution, and effectively outlaws abortion in Ireland.
A total of 21% are not in favour of repeal, 2% said they don’t know and 17% gave another response. Many of these cited the complexity of the issue and insisted it was not a question that had a ‘Yes or No’ answer.
A total of 123 of the 224 Oireachtas members we contacted responded to the survey – a response rate of 55%.
However, just 32% or 27 out of 85 members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party participated in the survey which asked politicians:
Are you personally in favour of repealing the 8th Amendment?
Of those Fine Gael TDs and Senators who did respond, 9 said they were in favour of repeal, 8 were against, 2 said they didn’t know and 8 gave another answer.
The party has not yet formulated a position on whether or not to campaign for a referendum on the 8th Amendment at the next election. A spokesperson for the Taoiseach Enda Kenny articulated Fine Gael’s current position:
The Government has made clear that there will be no further referendums during the remainder of this term. Each party will be bringing forward their own proposals ahead of the next general election. The Fine Gael party has yet to do so.
The decision to legislate for the X Case two years ago caused huge upheaval in Fine Gael. Several TDs and Senators, including Lucinda Creighton, quit over what they believed was a broken election 2011 promise NOT to legislate for abortion in circumstances where there is a risk to the life of the mother, including suicide.
Many Fine Gael TDs and Senators who we contacted this week were not prepared to discuss the issue.
Elsewhere, the survey of Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators showed they are broadly against repealing the 8th Amendment with some TDs insisting it it was too complex an issue to give a Yes or No answer to.
At its most recent Ard Fheis, party members voted to maintain the Fianna Fáil position NOT to repeal the 8th Amendment.
Labour and Sinn Féin are both in favour of repealing the 8th Amendment after passing motions at their most recent conference/Ard Fheis.
However our survey found that not every member of each party agrees with that policy.
Among the independents and smaller parties there is strong support for repealing the 8th Amendment. United Left deputy Clare Daly has consistently put forward legislation in the area as has Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Ruth Coppinger.
Independent TD Michael Lowry told us he hasn’t considered the issue as it is not on the political agenda at the moment. His fellow Tipperary deputy Mattie McGrath was among those who said he was not in favour of repeal.
Amongst Renua, whose founding members left Fine Gael over the abortion issue, only Senator Mary Ann-O’Brien said she was in favour of repeal.
Its leader Lucinda Creighton has previously told this website she would favour a referendum on the 8th Amendment – but not its repeal:
The amendment, Article 40.3.3, was added to the Constitution following a referendum on 7 September 1983.
It reads: “The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.”
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Repeal the 8th Amendment now!
I asked you this yesterday on the article about the poll numbers PP, you didn’t answers so I’ll try again….
How does SF dropping by 3 points in a poll which can underestimate support by 3 points = poll numbers ‘dropping off rapidly’?
“They went from a high of 24 or 25% down to 18%”
You do realise that in polls with margins of error of +-3%, that the poll result could be 18% OR 24%?
You know this right?
Your real support could be 21% and the poll result could show 18% OR 24%, given the +-3% MOE
You have copped onto this, no?
Don’t worry about it. When the poll that matters happens the Shinners will know exactly where they stand. And it won’t be in government.
For Connolly – so you’re saying if Sinn Féin are at 18% in the polls they could actually be at 15%.
No. SF will not be in the next government. That has nothing to do with their popularity gauged on any of these polls. People tend to forget who is going to be in opposition when an election is around the corner.
Although it is kind of unlikely it is not unimaginable to see Adams on camera 2.
If the poll states a party on 18% and the margin of error is +-3% well then the actual level of support is anywhere between 15% and 21%.
Margin of error is within +-3% of the headline figure, you can’t take any point within the margin of error and then add another 3%, that makes no sense.
Perhaps SF is indeed at 15% in reality.
Thank for clearing that up FC/Jamsy.
so… FG/Lab on 41% possibly WJ? For SF to lose 16% of their support in a few months must take effort.
As a man, I feel that I should have total control over everything a woman does with her body.
No woman should be allowed to abort a child without the consent of the father.
Just kidding. Not my womb, not my business.
All joking aside; if I did impregnate a woman, I’d like to be consulted on the outcome, but the final decision should be left to the woman.
I’d like to father a child, but I would never force a woman to carry a child against her will.
As for women I have not impregnated, please see above. Not my womb. Not my business.
It’s unthinkable in this day and age that crisis people in a crisis pregnancy are not supported. Nobody should be forced to carry a non viable pregnancy to term.
No surprise Clare daly prominent. If she had her way she’d abort at conception.
Literally lol’d at the stupidity of this comment
That would be a horrific ending
Why show a picture of Ronan Mullen ? He wasnt elected by the people to anything ?
#LifeEquality
#bodilyautonomy
#respect
#wheresthebeef
#stopthehashtags
So 60% are in favour of repeal of the amendment. Out of 224 members of the Oireachtas, that would make it 135 of them. Yet only 123 members responded to the questionnaire. Shome mishtake shurely.
Nope.
It’s bias.
And I thought that THE media were suppose to report the news NOT BE A PROPAGANDA MACHINE FOR SPECIFIC AGENDAS……
You accidentally pressed the cap lock button half way through that. You will be so embarrassed when you realise
I’m troubled – which side of the agenda did the Journal just push? I clearly missed it…
I’d say that in or about reflects the electorate.
Just goes to show the wisdom of the 8th amendment. It matters nothing how many elected representatives want the 8th appealed, it has to go to the people.
have your say