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THE CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLY is today tasked with providing guidance to the Oireachtas on the circumstances it feels the termination of pregnancy should be legal.
The assembly yesterday voted overwhelmingly to recommend changing Ireland’s strict abortion laws.
The members of the assembly voted against deleting the Eighth Amendment to the constitution but instead voted to replace it.
They recommended a constitutional provision that directs the Oireachtas to legislate on the termination of pregnancy and any rights of the unborn and the pregnant woman.
A referendum would be required if the government proceeded with the recommendation.
The assembly’s next vote, which is currently underway, provides them with an opportunity to state the reasons and circumstances for which they feel a termination should be lawful.
In the draft ballot paper prepared before today eight reasons were included but this was expanded to 13 after a vote from members.
In each of the 13 reasons there are a number of options that refer to gestational term limits. In each circumstance the members may select that they feel a termination should not be allowed.
Among the changes that were included by members were additional questions that referred to the ‘risk’ to the mother. An earlier draft of the ballot referred only to ‘serious risk’.
In addition, another reason has been included that allows members state to which extent they feel ‘socio-economic reasons’ should constitute a legal ground for termination.
This is the ballot paper members will be voting on. It will be the final vote they take on the issue of Eighth Amendment.
After today’s meeting is concluded Chairperson Justice Mary Laffoy will prepare a report for the Oireachtas that will be delivered before the end of June.
An Oireachtas committee is being established to examine its recommendations.
Laffoy’s report will be based on the results of the voting as well as the ballots themselves and any other recommendations assembly members have themselves made.
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These floods have been going on for the last 3 days and the journal are the first to do a story on it, nothing in any of the other news sites
They’re trying to find a way to link it to Putin first.
Sad
You would think that when you can’t see the massive propaganda against Russia at the moment.
Do you actually believe that they are trying to link Rainfall to Putin?
No it was a joke ffs…
Albeit a bad one at that.
Joe, congratulations for being the first to link this to Putin.
Thank you Journal for sharing story on this. I contacted you last night about it so is very appreciated. I hope you keep covering it as situation is very bad and people need help. Badly. We are trying to organise something from Ireland but we have very little knowledge how to do it except privately sending small amounts of money which is not really help in moment as they need water, food, nappies etc for next few nights. Looks like all help or most of it is coming from few countries ( Russia among first) and ex Yugoslavian from other countries. Croatia and Slovenia send help as well even there is big risk in Croatia for same happening to them. Any further media cover keep donation to this people so thank you very much for it.
They need to get going on climate change mitigation soon as the situation is not going to get any better – it is not as if this was not predicted with a warming climate in the region. Big floods in Germany around the Danube last year when I was there too. Warmer air holds more moisture and leads to heavier rain and more storms – one of the basics of climate and meteorology. Every country needs to start mitigation work against the worst effects of climate change, because it is here now and it is not going away.
Geo engineering at its evil best
Proof?
have your say