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Updated 4:40pm
Here is a brief summary of what the Citizens’ Assembly recommended this weekend:
THE CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLY has recommended that abortion should be legal without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
In a vote this afternoon, the members were asked whether women should be allowed access to termination without restriction as to reasons.
In the ballot, the assembly members had a number of different options in relation to gestational term limits.
After the votes were counted, almost two-thirds (64%) agreed that termination should be allowed without restriction as to reasons.
Out of the 87 valid votes cast, 29 people (36%) said terminations should not be available without restriction.
Of those who felt termination should be available without restriction, the largest vote largest vote (48%) was to allow a termination without restriction up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
In total, members voted on 13 reasons for which they feel a termination should or shouldn’t be lawful.
In each of the 13 reasons there were a number of options that refer to gestational term limits and members were able to say that termination should not be allowed at all.
In a question that gauged their recommendation on terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, 59% said there should be no restriction on when a legal termination could take place.
As today’s meeting is now 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.
A referendum would be required if the government proceeded with the assembly’s recommendation.
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.
Reaction
In a statement, the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment said that the Citizens’ Assembly have made it clear that the Oireachtas must assume responsibility for legislating on the issue.
Its convenor Ailbhe Smyth said: “The government cynically established the Citizens’ Assembly to avoid making difficult decisions themselves.
Through their hard work and dedication, the Assembly members concluded what the government should have known all along: that is the role of the legislature to decide.
Smyth added that the recommendations represent a “real step towards ending Ireland’s abortion ban”.
In a press conference this evening, Smyth said that it should be possible to hold a referendum in the spring of 2018. She also said that she has no reason to believe that the Oireachtas will not deliver what the assembly has recommended.
They tally with public opinion and that’s very, very clear. We would certainly be urging the Joint Oireachtas Committee to see that 99 members from around the country are coming up with stunningly high proportions. Over two-thirds on request, 73% for socio-economic reasons, health and so forth.
Amnesty International, meanwhile, called it a “truly momentous leap for the human rights of women and girls in Ireland”.
Its Irish director Colm O’Gorman added that the assembly has done what it’s been tasked to do.
“That means the Oireachtas has a clear responsibility and there’s a clear expectation that the Oireachtas will follow through and deliver on these recommendations. It would frankly be unthinkable were they not to, ” he said.
The assembly’s recommendation was also welcomed by the National Women’s Council of Ireland and the Union of Students in Ireland.
The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) said that the Citizens’ Assembly’s recommendation would lead to “abortion on demand”.
Speaking on behalf of the PLC, Cora Sherlock accused the assembly of having a one-sided approach.
She added that, on any possible referendum on the Eighth Amendment that would remove the provision guaranteeing the right to life of an unborn child, “it’s far from certain that it would pass”.
- With reporting from Sean Murray
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Hopefully he won’t and leo won’t be taoiseach again
Wishful thinking maby
We can dare to dream
@Richarddoherty: He says he is committed to the continuation of the unprecedented coalition. Lol, of course he is, it’s the only thing he hasn’t spoofed about.
Sorry what support , like we didn’t bail out the banks either , clinging to power at all costs
@Willie Bill Bryan: Remember his spoof attack on Fine Gael policies just before the last election, he somehow thought we had forgotten that his party had propped up Fine Gael in the “confidence & supply” deal for the previous five years whereby they supported every motion FG put before the Dail.
“Fine Gael need to come out of government, they’ve been there too long, they haven’t delivered on key issues such as housing, health and the impact of cost of living on many people.”
“The people want a new government. That means a completely new government”
Michael Martin January 2020.
@Declan Doherty: That’s it, he also accused FG of behaving in a “Jekyll & Hyde” manner to the electorate!!! The neck of him, he’s the looney Jekyll & Hyde character of Irish politics. He’d sell his granny.
@Declan Doherty: and he said he kept getting the same message on the doorsteps that voters wanted FG out of government. He then goes into government with then as equals.he just wanted the gig as taoiseach. He doesn’t really care about housing and the other issues
Martin is delusional. And as for Leo, I don’t see how we can accept a leak and a proven lia_r as Taoiseach. A week is a long time in politics and we have a long time to go before these changes happen.
Martin and Leo will more than likely retire by next General Election, live off their pension and perks, in the mean time they’ll take what ever they can and not give a fiddlers….
Dustin the turkey has better leadership skills and would do a better job than Mehole.
The problem is this current rainbow, is going to hand Sinn Fein, if they do get in a very poisonous chalice. I can see Micheál surviving a heave although Leo might be pushed under a bus as well although he has a few that will take the hit for him. When the dust settles and the covid bill has to be paid then we will see, who can make lemon curd toast not taste bitter.
@Twitruser2021: that why they’re throwing money around like confetti so the country will be well and truly broke when sinn Fein win the next election the mess will need a big shake to get the repayments in and the middle don’t have it any more
@Twitruser2021: Leo could be out after investigation of his leak. Also damaged by Dublin Bay South carry on.
@Peter McGlynn: That’s not going to happen Peter. Those guys are untouchable.
Peaky blinders!
The problem is this current rainbow, is going to hand Sinn Fein, if they do get in a very poisonus chalice. I can see Micheál surviving a heave although Leo might be pushed under a bus as well although he has a few that will take the hit for him. When the dust settles and the covid bill has to be paid then we will see, who can make lemon curd toast not taste bitter.
Michael gets a Taoiseach’s pension before he loses the next election and gets fired out by the rest of his buddies and rent-a-gob Leo “leading the nation” as Taoiseach into another election which might get him personally by the fifth count again!
Dead man walking …we got a dead man walking here.
@BK: looking more than likely its gonna be an inside job that’s gonna take him out. Every press conference it gets worse and worse. Remember the whole “The banks weren’t bailed out”…
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