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McGrath accuses Taoiseach of lobbying for ban on online referendum adverts

The No side said earlier this week that the government had a hand in lobbying for the Google decision to ban all adverts.

(If you can’t see the video, click here)

INDEPENDENT TD MATTIE McGrath has accused Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of lobbying tech giants Google and Facebook to ban advertising relating to the upcoming Eighth Amendment referendum.

Earlier this week, Facebook announced that it was banning adverts on the upcoming vote that originate outside of Ireland, while Google announced a blanket ban on any Eighth-related advertising.

At a press conference of a group of No campaigners on Wednesday, pro-life spokespeople accused the government, the media and the Yes side of orchestrating the Google ban to try to rig the referendum in favour of a Yes vote.

The No side said that it had planned significant advertising spend through Google and YouTube in the coming weeks and that the ban was “preventing campaigns that have done nothing illegal from campaigning in a perfectly legal matter”.

McGrath echoed this today on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics, and mentioned the Taoiseach directly in relation to the lobbying of the tech firms in relation to online adverts.

“I wonder who prompted them. I have a fair idea,” he said. When pressed by host Aine Lawlor what he was referring to, McGrath said “the Taoiseach”.

McGrath added: “The people can see what’s going on. They don’t trust the government.”

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan strongly denied that this was the case.

“That’s a very strong allegation,” she said. “I’d like to see the evidence of that, Deputy McGrath.

Absolutely [I deny this]. As the deputy knows, it’s very important to know who pays for these ads.

She said that the tech companies had come to these decisions on their own, to which McGrath replied: “You expect us to believe that?”

Both McGrath and Madigan, and other panellists Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher and Independent Michael Healy-Rae, agreed that online advertising was an area that needed to be regulated.

There are now less than two weeks until the referendum, on 25 May.

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137 Comments
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    Mute ktsiwot
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    May 13th 2018, 2:55 PM

    Mattie rambles incoherently a lot, nothing new here.

    489
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    Mute A Piece of Chalk
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    May 13th 2018, 4:08 PM

    @ktsiwot: Typical Pro-Life and their facts. He has ‘a feeling’ it was the Taoiseach, LOL! The No side are becoming a parody of themselves at this point.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    May 13th 2018, 4:19 PM

    @ktsiwot: what I find funny is he thought Leo did something! Other than look in the mirror.

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    Mute Karl Alldritt
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    May 13th 2018, 7:26 PM

    @ktsiwot: nice of the good people of Tipp to send us both this clown and Lowry. They really outdo themselves for elections

    49
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    Mute Charliegrl80
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    May 13th 2018, 9:54 PM

    @Karl Alldritt: Like any of the rest of the millionaires in the Dail are any better!

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    Mute Donal Hanley
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    May 14th 2018, 10:01 AM

    @ktsiwot:
    McGrath’s undereducated nonsense is bad enough but why was John Waters long, long ‘interview’ allowed to descend to a loud and bullying rant. The plug should have been pulled on him early on. His former ‘partner’ says he is suffering from severe depression and needs professional help. I think it is clear she is absolutely correct.

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    Mute Rochelle
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    May 13th 2018, 3:04 PM

    The anger from this shows how much stock the No side had put in their propaganda channels. Scary times that we have political forces and even a TD who would campaign for an outcome in full knowledge that it wouldn’t stand up to reason or debate.

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    Mute Jeremy Fontaine
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    May 13th 2018, 3:17 PM

    @Rochelle: the wild cheering of massive corporate censorship by the Yes campaign is deeply troubling and absolutely orwellian.

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    Mute Gavin86
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    May 13th 2018, 3:48 PM

    @Jeremy Fontaine: In what part of the novel “1984″ did Big Brother willingly shut the power off and leave everybody alone, Jeremy?

    Touch of the dramatics about your statement there!!

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    Mute Anne Marie Devlin
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    May 13th 2018, 4:05 PM

    @Jeremy Fontaine: hope the weather’s nice in Budapest.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    May 13th 2018, 4:26 PM

    @Jeremy Fontaine: well when we’re voting on your body then you can have a say on lies being circulated on the internet.

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    Mute A Piece of Chalk
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    May 13th 2018, 5:28 PM

    @Matt Bateman: I bet you wish they couldn’t.

    53
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    Mute A Piece of Chalk
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    May 13th 2018, 5:50 PM

    @Matt Bateman: Except when it comes to women making choices about their pregnancies.

    54
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    Mute Mary O'Carroll
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    May 13th 2018, 7:19 PM

    @Jeremy Fontaine: I think the fact that elected and well paid deputies such as the ever attention-seeking but usually incoherent Mattie McGrath didn’t get around to doing something in the Dail to regulate the tech giants etc is more of an issue, after all he is paid to do that kind of thing, not sling any kind of unfounded allegation against the Government or as he seems to be trying to do a la the USA and UK undermine people’s trust in governmental processes etc, but then today must be a difficult day for him given the news of how rich fellow Tipp independent TD Lowry is…..

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    Mute EDun
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    May 13th 2018, 8:01 PM

    @Matt Bateman: Matt, may I ask why you are in favour or Repealing the 8th

    7
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    Mute EDun
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    May 13th 2018, 8:29 PM

    @Matt Bateman: Matt, may I ask you why you are in favour of Repealing the 8th?

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    Mute Boyne Sharky
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    May 13th 2018, 3:12 PM

    Absolute nonsense. “I wonder, I have a fair idea”. People have ended up in the High Court for having made accusations like this with no evidence whatsoever to back them up.
    In fact Google themselves came out with a statement during the week and clarified why they took the steps they did, in effect in they ‘self regulated’ in the absence of any government direction, directly contradicting McGrath’s claims.
    Had the majority of these adverts not been paid for or been placed from outside Ireland this wouldn’t have been necessary, and it’s been since proven that the vast majority of these have been from the Pro-Life lobby. As we’ve seen recently in American, this has the effect of allowing foreign interference in the referendum of this country, both social media companies took the initiative to self regulate and prevent this.
    Mattie McGrath appears to be saying that he’s incensed his Pro-Life lobby has been caught and are now blaming the Taoiseach, the fact is they shouldn’t have been doing this in the first place. These groups shouldn’t have been controlled from abroad, yet they were, they shouldn’t have been accepting large sums of money from abroad, yet they were. Had this been the other way around there’d have arrest warrants issued. Perhaps he should consider that.

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    Mute Dan Boyle
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    May 13th 2018, 6:49 PM

    @Boyne Sharky: Hmmmm. Makes you wonder. What american president had some quote about whats going on here. Was it Truman or Rossevelt or someone else. not sure but it was something like if they have to deny it or say it didnt happen then it did. there is never smoke without fire. But in this current climate where leo and harris were not aware of any wrong doings in the cervical cancer scandal we need to reflect and #believeleo because with the way things are going i would not take at face value alot of what leo and harris have to say at the present time.

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    Mute Greg Blake
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    May 13th 2018, 9:06 PM

    I’ve given up on taking any public statements from anyone at face value. That also goes for one group in receipt of international funding bashing another for their international funding.

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    Mute Lisa Saputo
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    May 13th 2018, 3:15 PM

    I would be amazed if any government would have been capable of getting Google to do anything they don’t want to do.

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    Mute Arch Angel
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    May 13th 2018, 4:31 PM

    @Lisa Saputo: As has already been clearly pointed out this is all about deflection from McGrath & Co. as they have been caught red handed and now have to deflect the blame.
    Facebook have only banned those adverts originating from outside the country, they don’t want another situation like the recent one in America where Mark Zuckerberg was called before a congressional hearing. In light of this they took preemptive action, which bear in mind cuts off what is likely to be a lucrative source of income for them. Neither of the social media companies want to be accused of complicity in tampering with a referendum in a foreign country – which is what McGrath has admitted to, albeit reluctantly. Google ceased all such advertising, perhaps it was technically easier for them, they made it clear they took this step themselves because of no government direction.
    McGrath has conceded that a significant portion of the Pro-Life funding has come from abroad and many of their social media accounts are controlled from outside Ireland, but then tried to gloss over this. His answer is to accuse the Taoiseach and government of what amounts to underhanded tactics. Disgraceful behaviour.

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    Mute Dan Boyle
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    May 13th 2018, 7:06 PM

    @Lisa Saputo: Easy to amaze you. Check out double irish and the google tax issues.

    23
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    Mute
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    May 13th 2018, 3:12 PM

    The yes side put the pressure on because #savethe8th are getting their message across. A yes vote means abortion for whatever reason a woman likes up to 12 weeks with no accountability. Its madness.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    May 13th 2018, 3:16 PM

    @: Accountability to whom?

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    Mute Roland D Hay
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    May 13th 2018, 3:21 PM

    @: So you would prefer to keep the current arrangement?
    You know where we pretend that we don’t have abortion in this country whilst we ship the problem to the UK.
    Or we turn a blind eye to abortion pills being taken without any medical supervision.

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    Mute Gulliver Foyle
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    May 13th 2018, 3:24 PM

    Keep throwing nonsense into the mix, it just gets the mattie/no side more confused. The reality is the majority of people know what this referendum is about and how they are voting, and don’t need to be patronised by your religious driven psuedo morality any more.

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    Mute Matthew Henry
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    May 13th 2018, 3:32 PM

    @Gulliver Foyle: keep peddling the religious line..this is for unrestricted abortion for 3 months ..and thats for starters …

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    Mute
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    May 13th 2018, 3:37 PM

    @Roland D Hay: there needs to be more controls at customs and the internet providers all need to obliged to block acess to the sites that sell these pills. Like they did with pirate bay. There are other choices for these girls.

    18
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    Mute Roland D Hay
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    May 13th 2018, 3:44 PM

    @: Yeah maybe you could stop them leaving the country as well.
    Oh sorry we tried that and the courts ruled that it was illegal.
    Perhaps as soon as it is discovered that a woman is pregnant that she is taken into care until the baby is born.
    That way we can make sure that there are no abortions.
    Alternatively we can let someone make their own decision as to what they want to do without interfering in their life.

    106
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    Mute
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    May 13th 2018, 3:54 PM

    @Roland D Hay: i voted no in 1992 and id do it again. Only in a life and death situation should abortion be permitted, anything else is just murder.

    43
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    Mute
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    May 13th 2018, 3:56 PM

    @Matt Bateman: exactly, they handed out those pills because its trendy to be repeal. They had no concern for the women who took them or the babies that might have died as a result.

    32
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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    May 13th 2018, 3:57 PM

    @: So the ~170,000 Irish women who have had an abortion should be jailed for life?

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    Mute
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    May 13th 2018, 4:01 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: thats between them and God.

    13
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    Mute Roland D Hay
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    May 13th 2018, 4:03 PM

    @Matt Bateman: still unsafe without medical supervision.
    That was a stunt which showed how easy it is to get the pills.
    I am sure that late teenage and early 20′s would be surprised to be considered as young girls.
    Also just because ROSA volunteers handed pills out I am unaware if they forced them to be taken.

    33
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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    May 13th 2018, 4:03 PM

    @: Do you feel the same way about other ‘murderers’?

    41
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    Mute Roland D Hay
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    May 13th 2018, 4:05 PM

    @: That worked out so well for Savita Halappanavar
    Her death was a direct result of the 8th.
    I also voted in 82.
    No then and yes now.

    72
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    Mute Mirabelle Stonegate
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    May 13th 2018, 4:08 PM

    @: so you think it’s only right that I face death if I get pregnant?

    I discovered during the week that there is a high likelihood I will develop hemachromatosis later in life. I already have higher than average iron levels at 30. My mother gave birth to me at 30. Everything went from fine to not within 24 hours. High iron levels nearly killed us both. As they lived in the UK at the time, abortion was available, however there was no indication of any problems until 3 weeks before I was due.

    Had my parents known this would have happened, they would have ended the pregnancy early on, but it didn’t become a problem until it was too late.

    I now have the same susceptibility but thankfully more information is available.

    So…if, despite my best efforts I get pregnant, do you genuinely believe I should be prevented from ending it despite knowing it could kill me?

    57
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    Mute
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    May 13th 2018, 4:12 PM

    @Mirabelle Stonegate: your comment makes no sense. If your mother had aborted you, you would not be here writing this .

    34
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    Mute Dan Boyle
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    May 13th 2018, 4:18 PM

    @Roland D Hay: By allowing them to kill another life.

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    Mute Mirabelle Stonegate
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    May 13th 2018, 4:25 PM

    @: at least then she wouldn’t have the health issues she has as a result. I also wouldn’t know because it would have happened before I properly existed.

    Also, I would really appreciate if you could answer what I asked.

    And it is sheer luck I am alive. I should have died. The doctors told my dad he should prepare to only bring home my mum, that they didn’t expect me to survive more than 24 hours because of how much iron was in my body.

    41
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    Mute Áine
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    May 13th 2018, 4:28 PM

    @: a woman doesn’t need to be accountable to anyone. Do you know how terrifying it is to be pregnant in this country and have to realise your wishes and health take a back seat? That your unborn child has more rights or the same as you although they cannot survive without you? It’s frightening.

    No one should be dictating what woman can and cannot do or what they should or shouldn’t do. Shame on you. I hope you or yours never experience a crisis pregnancy first hand or need the service.

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    Mute Anita OGalligan
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    May 13th 2018, 4:32 PM

    @: 1hour ago person. Abortion for whatever reason is totally untrue. There will be restrictions if you hadn’t already heard. The reason there has been a ban on Google is these ads were coming from outside Ireland. In any case these images put up by the Pro life lobby were disgusting, offensive and insulting. Vote Yes!

    55
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    Mute Gkell1
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    May 13th 2018, 4:57 PM

    @Anita OGalligan: “Abortion for whatever reason is totally untrue”

    “2.40. The Committee recommends that the law should be amended to permit termination of pregnancy with no restriction as to reason provided that it is availed of through a GP-led service delivered in a clinical context as determined by law and licencing practice in Ireland with a gestational limit of 12 weeks.”

    https://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/committees/eighthamendmentoftheconstitution/Report-of-the-Joint-Committee-on-the-Eighth-Amendment-web-version.pdf

    To hear a politicians today on tv say that a ’3 day waiting period’ is a restriction looks like desperation to any person who is not an extermination enthusiast.

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    Mute Dan Boyle
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    May 13th 2018, 5:16 PM

    @Mirabelle Stonegate: Havent a clue what you are on about in the main but how does the 8th prevent you from care. if there is a threat to your life in pregnancy then you are allowed an abortion, so without knowing much about the speel you just gave, not sure of the relevance.

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    Mute Roland D Hay
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    May 13th 2018, 5:16 PM

    @Dan Boyle: And how do you propose to stop it?
    The 8th hasn’t worked.
    Of course we have no abortion in Ireland as we pass the problem to the UK.
    Or we ignore pills that are imported illegally.
    I trust the women in this country to do the right thing for them and I see no reason why I should interfere in their lives.
    Perhaps you should do the same.

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    Mute i'm a headbanger
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    May 13th 2018, 5:20 PM

    @Matt Bateman: Did you know that a 100% undisputed child has ‘zero rights’ to any organs or the use of any body part of another 100% undisputed living person. What question were you asking again ?

    19
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    Mute Nydon
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    May 13th 2018, 5:22 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: Are you really Cathy Newman?

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    Mute i'm a headbanger
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    May 13th 2018, 5:29 PM

    @Matt Bateman: of course you have no idea…does a human embryo have a ‘right’ to use another persons organs without the woman’s consent ?

    21
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    Mute Mirabelle Stonegate
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    May 13th 2018, 5:34 PM

    @Dan Boyle: i am susceptible to a condition that has a good possibility of making me really ill at best, or dead at worst, should i carry to term.

    the problem is that, from what i know, it doesn’t actually become a problem until past the point that any abortion would be carried out – roughly the last month.

    with that in mind, given that there’s no way of knowing will i live or die, or even be affected, do you genuinely believe it would be the right thing to do to potentially force me to my death, by making me continue a pregnancy, especially given that every day, i ensure i take all precautions i can to avoid it?

    the susceptibility to hemachromatosis is something i’ve long suspected, but only had diagnosed this week, so i’m still processing the fact that i’ve to add another condition to the long list i already have to watch out for.

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    Mute Dermattg
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    May 13th 2018, 5:43 PM
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    Mute Nick Caffrey
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    May 13th 2018, 6:02 PM

    Love your name…

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    May 13th 2018, 6:09 PM

    @Nydon: I don’t know who Cathy Newman is, but I like the sound of her.

    11
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    Mute
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    May 13th 2018, 6:10 PM

    @Gkell1: hear hear. There’ll be young ones waiting 3 days, taking the pills, then back the next month to do it all again. I weep for the gps of ireland #savethe8th

    14
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    Mute Naoimh Ó Murchadha
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    May 13th 2018, 6:32 PM

    Don’t be a fool. Murder says the user with no name! You guys are getting desperate. All your propaganda channels are getting shut down and you are panicking.

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    Mute Ole dan tucker
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    May 13th 2018, 6:43 PM

    @Roland D Hay: nobody wants the current situation as it stands, however this referendum goes too far and is not the right answer for me and many others, I will be voting no to send the govt back to the drawing board and come up with a proposal which addresses my concerns

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    Mute Roland D Hay
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    May 13th 2018, 8:05 PM

    @Dermattg: Yeah.
    Spirit Radio the Irish Christian and religious radio station are really going to broadcast something that disagrees with their beliefs.
    You should try harder.

    13
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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    May 13th 2018, 9:22 PM

    @Dan Boyle: Do you think that a comment like that will help your cause? I see it as stupid, ignorant and disgusting.

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    Mute Zmeevo Libe
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    May 13th 2018, 10:30 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: That is just his (misogynistic bigoted) way. “Wimmin cannot be trusted”, and certainly shouldn’t be trusted. What makes him think Aine has no children?!

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    Mute Dan Boyle
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    May 13th 2018, 11:31 PM

    @Mirabelle Stonegate: you should wear a billboard, just so we know.

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    Mute J Corb
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    May 14th 2018, 12:07 AM

    @Brendan O’Brien: no mother has ever even been charged under the 8th let alone prosecuted.

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    Mute Jack Jackson
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    May 13th 2018, 4:26 PM

    Anti-Choice people remind me of Pro Brexit people. All ifs, buts, conspiracies and fantasies with no solutions for the real problems at hand now.

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    Mute Dan Boyle
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    May 13th 2018, 4:32 PM

    @Jack Jackson: Kind of ironic statement in that the pro-life side do not want to have an abortion regime the same as your beloved pro abortion brigade who want a british style abortion regime to allow unrestricted abortion.

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    Mute Anita OGalligan
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    May 13th 2018, 4:36 PM

    @Jack Jackson: Here, here, The brexiteers told loads of lies.

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    Mute Gkell1
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    May 13th 2018, 4:50 PM

    @Jack Jackson: “Anti-Choice people remind me of Pro Brexit people. All ifs, buts, conspiracies and fantasies with no solutions for the real problems at hand now.”

    To uphold the rule of law that willful intent to end life for no reason as an entitlement or a right is at the centre of the issue . All medical issues surrounding a developing child where no willful intent is involved would comprise the main question but the Government chose to bundle a medical issue (compassionate) with an entitlement issue (repeal).

    Law and order comes first in protecting life. Anyone here who doesn’t want the law to provide blanket protection for all life on this island is deceiving themselves.

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    Mute Dermattg
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    May 13th 2018, 5:53 PM

    @Anita OGalligan: it seems that there have been a lot of untruths around the effect of the 8th Anita
    http://podcasts.spiritradio.ie/these-comments-are-simply-not-true-dr-eamon-mcguinness/

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    Mute i'm a headbanger
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    May 13th 2018, 6:13 PM

    @Dan Boyle: but the woman has to wait 72 hours before she gets access to a safe,legal abortion ,isn’t that correct ? Also,aren’t the “pro life” side ‘pro UK aborts’ for Irish women ?

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    Mute EDun
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    May 13th 2018, 8:12 PM

    @Dermattg: ‘spirit’ radio? I’m guessing they may have an agenda based on a catholic belief system?

    14
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    Mute Dan Boyle
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    May 13th 2018, 9:34 PM

    @i’m a headbanger: WTF are you on about.flights maybe. still murder at the end of it all. #believeleo

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    Mute Declan Joseph Deasy
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    May 13th 2018, 3:19 PM

    Exactly what I would expect from him. Gutter politician. A bag carrier for the Church

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    Mute James Keogh
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    May 13th 2018, 3:46 PM

    @Declan Joseph Deasy: A foot soldier of the Kerry Clowns

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    Mute Dan Boyle
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    May 13th 2018, 4:21 PM

    @James Keogh: Or is he onto something. Do you believe Leo. Do you believe that when he was minister for health that he did not know what was going on in health. If you dont believe mattie then you have to believe leo. Blind faith or what.

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    Mute Karen Wellington
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    May 13th 2018, 5:04 PM

    @Dan Boyle: or you could believe the statement Google released to explain why they took this decision.
    You really are one of the most disingenuous posters on this site, are you incapable of being honest or do you just enjoys the lies?

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    Mute Dan Boyle
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    May 13th 2018, 5:40 PM

    @Karen Wellington: didnt know you were stalking me Karen. But to answer, everything I state is my own opinion and beliefs. This is what is wrong with the yesforabortion side. Any differing opinion to yours has to be a lie. When your bubble bursts and you have experienced enough in life then you may develope or not a different opinion to how precious a life is. We all only get one life and it is up to us to be the best we can in not ruining our life or the life of another. Therefore it is my firm belief that any human cannot decide to put to death another human. Every one will die but at least give them the chance to live. When alot of us are on our deathbeds and wishing for more life, is it not just plain wrong to stop the lives at such an early stage. we were all there once and its up to us to keep the sanctity of life. Its very complicated to create a life but by removing the 8th, it will make it too easy to take one.

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    Mute Karen Wellington
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    May 13th 2018, 5:54 PM

    @Dan Boyle: forming a zygote is not complicated, at all. Do you need me to explain the basics of reproduction to you?
    You’re deliberately misrepresenting the situation (in the most tenuous of leaps) to suit the rant you want to make.
    A private company made a decision to protect themselves from being used as tool by foreign parties to influence a democratic issue in this country, something that has happened to them before, and certain people are shouting censorship (look it up; this is not censorship) because they don’t like the idea of a level playing field and somehow you find a way to blame the government. You’re a pathetic representative for your side.

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    Mute i'm a headbanger
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    May 13th 2018, 6:10 PM

    @Dan Boyle – what about human lives that are on life support machines ?How about ending another human being life through self defence ? Are your morals ok with that ?

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    Mute James Keogh
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    May 13th 2018, 6:16 PM

    @Dan Boyle: Thanks for the joke, I must remember this one, it’s sure to get a Laugh.

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    Mute Naoimh Ó Murchadha
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    May 13th 2018, 6:40 PM

    @Declan Joseph Deasy: I’m not a fan of matties stance on this issue but you are disgraceful calling him that. When the bad weather hit and people were stranded and trapped. Mattie and his family were out with their machinery clearing roads and pulling people out of ditches throughout the bad weather. How many other politicians were out getting there hands dirty?

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    Mute Karen Wellington
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    May 13th 2018, 10:04 PM

    @Dan Boyle: did you not finish school? Is that it? Ejaculation and fertilisation are very simple processes that the scientific and lay community both understand just fine.
    A miracle: an extraordinary and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to a divine agency. IVF is not religious magic. You’re an idiot if you think it is. It’s is however one example of those scientists you mentioned replicating natural fertilisation.
    Reproduction is an incredibly basic process, some women have issues getting pregnant or maintaining a pregnancy, but for the vast majority it’s as easy as having sex, and for those who do have trouble; at least they have a choice in how to proceed with their medical care.

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    Mute Karen Wellington
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    May 13th 2018, 10:04 PM

    @Dan Boyle: I think you might have a singular view of this issue being part of the incell brigade. Nobody is stupid enough to think that a medical or surgical abortion is a cheaper or easier option than condoms/the pill/coil/morningafter pill, even you.
    No one is stalking you Dan, and I doubt anyone ever would (lucky old you). I think I’ve replied to a handful of your lies, probably not even in double figures (still nice of you to remember me) so you’ve essentially just confirmed that you are in fact pathetic with that little attempt at deflection.

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    Mute Jeremy Fontaine
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    May 13th 2018, 2:56 PM

    Will Leo or any government members debate their proposal before we go to the polls?? Cowards.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    May 13th 2018, 3:03 PM

    @Jeremy Fontaine: aren’t their two debates planned?

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    Mute Jeremy Fontaine
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    May 13th 2018, 3:09 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Not with representatives of the government.

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    Mute Gkell1
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    May 13th 2018, 3:11 PM

    @Jeremy Fontaine: Why should they when they don’t trust the electorate to ask the necessary direct questions which would have avoid a polarising of the electorate due to the way they distance the vote from the Oireachtas report. Politicians playing politics with each other is acceptable but playing politics with the electorate is unsightly and should dismay decent people.

    Send it back to the Government as a No vote and to maintain political integrity with their electorate.

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    Mute Gulliver Foyle
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    May 13th 2018, 3:21 PM

    @Gkell1: this referendum is beyond politics. Mattie and the Healys are loving the amount of airtime they are getting by being the “outraged minority”, but ultimately is only like to see two debates – one amongst medical and health professionals of both sides, and secondly legal experts from both sides. What the no side would want is to have their moral police to have the opportunity to patronize tfmr and other young women, but that is neither a debate, nor useful to anyone making a decision.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    May 13th 2018, 3:29 PM

    @Jeremy Fontaine: wouldn’t you rather hear from legal and medical professionals?

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    Mute James Keogh
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    May 13th 2018, 3:41 PM

    @Jeremy Fontaine: How come if you know so much that, you are not the Taoiseach or a TD or even a leader of any group, No just another empty can rattling about like Mattie and the Kerry Clowns.

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    Mute Gkell1
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    May 13th 2018, 3:43 PM

    @Gulliver Foyle: If none of you can research and reason the issue out on your own then why the f)ck are you responding to me. Send the ‘professionals’ here to the comment section as I haven’t seen many on the outside articulate the law and order issue where willful intent to end life is neither a right nor an entitlement.

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    May 13th 2018, 3:49 PM

    @Gkell1: wow, the new edgy Gerald is still as incoherent as the old one

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    Mute Gkell1
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    May 13th 2018, 3:55 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: You are like kids desperately trying to be spectators and hide behind ‘professionals’ but at least the women here have a sense of individuality and don’t need male feminists except as cannon fodder.

    No wonder the Government went for broke and try to force through willful intent to end life for no reason under the radar as compassionate medical concerns.

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    Mute Jeremy Fontaine
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    May 13th 2018, 3:57 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: I think it is important that the government ministers who have written the legislation to facilitate abortion on demand up to 3 months should stand over and debate their proposed legislation, don’t you?

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    Mute Dan Boyle
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    May 13th 2018, 4:11 PM

    @Gulliver Foyle: There was a good debate last week on prime time between two obstetricians and both with completely polarizing views, at the end of the day humans are getting to decide whether humans should have a right taken away from our constitution.It is as basic as that. Do we as humans have a right to decide whether other humans lives or dies.

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    Mute Tim Brennan
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    May 13th 2018, 4:12 PM

    @Jeremy Fontaine: The spin unit are afraid with his new found empathy for us lesser mortals that he may cry

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    Mute Roland D Hay
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    May 13th 2018, 5:17 PM

    @Jeremy Fontaine: so the no side can come out with more of their lies?

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    May 13th 2018, 5:20 PM

    @Jeremy Fontaine: I think the best people to explain the impact of proposed legislation are you know, legal professionals.

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    Mute i'm a headbanger
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    May 13th 2018, 5:26 PM

    @Dan Boyle: yes, we do.Source : The 25 safe,legal abortions that were carried out in 2016

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    Mute EillieEs
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    May 13th 2018, 6:18 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: and still unable to go more than a few comments without slipping in the word ‘entitlement’

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    Mute Jeremy Fontaine
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    May 13th 2018, 2:55 PM

    Fascists blueshirts lobbying for censorship? Wouldn’t be like them….

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    May 13th 2018, 3:15 PM

    @Jeremy Fontaine: You seem to be stuck in the 1930s.

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    Mute Jeremy Fontaine
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    May 13th 2018, 4:06 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: are you unaware that Fine Gael’s history is rooted in fascism? Fascists loved censorship so it is not surprising that Leo leaned on tech companies to silence opposition.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    May 13th 2018, 4:29 PM

    @Jeremy Fontaine: That episode was 80 years ago. It has no relevance today. To describe FG as ‘fascists’ is just silly and sloppy.

    FG’s history, for what it’s worth, is more ‘rooted’ in the 1919–23 period. In reality it is no different from FF.

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    Mute Pat O'Leary
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    May 14th 2018, 7:13 PM

    @Jeremy Fontaine: @Jeremy Fontaine: what evidence do you have that Leo leaned on the tech companies, or did you just pull it out of your arse like McGrath? This isn’t the US, you can’t just throw up lies about people and then plead “free speech”.

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    Mute Pconor
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    May 13th 2018, 5:19 PM

    Of course it’s censorship. NO side gaining serious momentum. NO way that Irish people will vote for a free for all abortion on demand regime of perfectly healthy babies..
    VOTE NO.

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    Mute i'm a headbanger
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    May 13th 2018, 6:13 PM

    @Pconor: NO

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    Mute EillieEs
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    May 13th 2018, 6:36 PM

    @Pconor: nobody knows at 12 weeks whether the fetus will develop into a healthy or unhealthy baby.

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    Mute Squiddley Diddley
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    May 13th 2018, 7:37 PM

    @Pconor: Its not censorship. It’s voluntarily applying the same logic that led to us ban political TV ads here for years, that we all accept as wise. The alternative is the deepest pockets get most exposure and the consensus here is that such a feature of politics would be unhealthy, leading to situations like in the US where politics is all about fundraising.

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    Mute Jonathan
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    May 13th 2018, 4:15 PM

    He’s just saying what the whole country is thinking!!!!

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    Mute EvieXVI
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    May 13th 2018, 4:30 PM

    @Jonathan:So you know that the whole country is thinking???

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    Mute Mirabelle Stonegate
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    May 13th 2018, 4:37 PM

    @Jonathan: really?? I was thinking “at least there won’t be any referendum ads showing up in children’s apps, and on children’s websites now!”

    This was happening and was very inappropriate. I encountered it because of my job.

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    Mute Naoimh Ó Murchadha
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    May 13th 2018, 6:44 PM

    @Jonathan: he isn’t

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    Mute Pauline Geraghty
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    May 13th 2018, 9:33 PM

    @Jonathan: Not the whole country, not by a long chalk. I for one am sick of the ads over and over again it’s becoming desensitizing.

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    Mute Steven Fitzpatrick
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    May 13th 2018, 3:38 PM

    Blame blame blame blame. Really getting the excuses in early on this one.

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    Mute Dan Boyle
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    May 13th 2018, 4:27 PM

    @Matt Bateman: Very sinister. Just as sinister as the “fact” that the minister and previous minister for health did not know what was going on in their department. Leo backed Fitzgerald to the hilt before christmas until it became too untenable and still was in denial after the fact. this guy is just so dishonest that he sounds honest to his own people that back him.

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    Mute James Keogh
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    May 13th 2018, 7:53 PM

    @Dan Boyle: Dan, settle down take a break, you are like a Ping Pong Ball, and after your rest you can come back again but when you do please stick to the point. Appreciate that it is about the 8th Amendment and a free vote.
    People have a choice and I am sure you will say Yes ! You agree.

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    Mute James Keogh
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    May 13th 2018, 10:00 PM

    @Dan Boyle: Read Again, “Agree, that People Have a CHOICE”
    Simple ! ! !

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    Mute Dan Boyle
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    May 13th 2018, 4:46 PM

    #believeleo. Isnt this an interesting week in politics that with a new record on waiting lists – over 500,000. 100′s on trolleys, cervical cancer mess, other problems in the health sector and our minister for health still had time to be at 918 “doctors of any kind” for yes and leo had time to lobby google, and yet neither can have time for a debate on the 8th. They cant stand by their own convictions or duties, especially in health where they both should be ashamed and aborted if that would be allowed for these two muppets. BTW
    #whereszappone

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    May 14th 2018, 6:28 AM

    @Dan Boyle: You really are stretching it. Get a grip if it is raining it is not the”liberals” fault or the YEs moveent as it is all you are short of blaming. The helth service is in a mess for the last 4 governments.
    Google and facebook saw the mess it helped create in other elections and decide to fix the problem.

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    Mute Cranky
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    May 13th 2018, 8:05 PM

    Mattie —— if your local supporters wanted a yes vote you would be voting yes. Get elected at any cost is what you and other politicians do but to use women and this referendum to get votes is a new low.

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    Mute Michelle Woods
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    May 13th 2018, 9:20 PM

    “Who put that g0bshite on the television?”

    - Fr Jack Hackett

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    Mute Dan Boyle
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    May 13th 2018, 11:14 PM

    @Michelle Woods: you did . its called democracy. your votes put him in along with gino kenny, zappone, coppinger, varadker. yes its like father ted but a little more serious where babies will die. they will not be actors. the babies will actually die. sorry to ruin your tooth fairy imagination.

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    May 14th 2018, 6:25 AM

    @Dan Boyle: You do know what the vote is about, sorry you obviously do not. The vote is a repeal of the 8th. Nothing less and nothing more. Abortion already happens in this country this is just getting rid of a law that makes it that people who need one medically can get one. But hey why let the truth bother you.

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    May 14th 2018, 6:30 AM

    @Dan Boyle: The same area that voted the richest and self serving TD in the country. Now we all did not vote for that or the other clowns that scream and roar on TV

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    Mute Johnnie Sexton
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    May 13th 2018, 4:43 PM

    Posters should have been banned also. They’re a pure waste and an eyesore.

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    Mute Dan Boyle
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    May 13th 2018, 4:54 PM

    @Johnnie Sexton: only for the posters alot of people would not be aware that there is a choice in this referendum. MSM and #believeleo and thejournalforyes.ie and our minister for health who does not know whats going on in health and our minister for some children who is currently on the missing list would have you believe in the following statements – vote yes for compassion for women but not babies, for yes for an equality by eliminating a life, vote yes because my body my choice to kill a baby, and above all TOGETHER FOR YES TO ALLOW WOMEN TO KILL A BABY. I am sure there are many more, oh yes the big one HEALTHCARE FOR WOMEN BUT NOT BABIES. FFS

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    Mute i'm a headbanger
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    May 13th 2018, 6:14 PM

    @Dan Boyle: babies are born…oh,and they do get healthcare…ffs

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    Mute James Keogh
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    May 13th 2018, 6:27 PM

    @Dan Boyle: Get off the Pot Dan, it’s probably over cooked and past time to flush it.

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    Mute EillieEs
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    May 13th 2018, 6:35 PM

    @Dan Boyle: nobody is talking about killing babies, it’s about preventing an embryo or fetus developing into a baby. You know that, of course, but prefer to twist the truth to push your agenda.

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    Mute EvieXVI
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    May 13th 2018, 10:08 PM

    @Dan Boyle: we all know there’s a choice FFS. That’s why we’re voting!!

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    Mute Michael Glasheen
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    May 13th 2018, 7:01 PM

    We’ll see if he’s right after the budget. It’ll be interesting to see what incentives these companies get for being in Ireland. I actually believe matty might be onto something. And before I’m accused of being a save the eighth I’m not.

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    Mute J Corb
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    May 13th 2018, 11:58 PM

    If RTE were still relevant as an influencer to anybody under 50 then they might have gotten some advertising revenue.

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    Mute Paula Doran
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    May 13th 2018, 6:25 PM

    Yet another stupid culchie man making an absolute eejit of himself. Wonder will Leo take legal advice on this blatant slander?

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    May 13th 2018, 11:51 PM

    My view is… https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/24/george-soros-hillary-clinton_n_4157242.html
    https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-06-10/must-see-video-how-google-manipulates-search-results-favor-hillary-clinton
    I am going to make connections here about why Google is trying to stop adverts about this referendum in my view in about 4 links?

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    May 13th 2018, 11:52 PM

    https://sputniknews.com/us/201412041015508041/
    http://www.thejournal.ie/george-soros-banned-3748738-Dec2017/
    So it seems that what separates Google and George Soros is the Clintons, just a thought?

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    May 14th 2018, 6:23 AM

    Ne is becoming more and more a parody of the country TD. I thought the chuckle brothers had it all sewed up there. He is so small minded and blames everybody else. Drink driving, ah sure it relaxes you, stag hunting Dublin telling us what to do. Seriously! Then you see he is from the same county as Lowery and it all makes sense

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    Mute David Van-Standen
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    May 14th 2018, 2:47 PM

    In fairness, it must be pretty annoying when your American based fundamental christian buddies, can’t use their offshore millions of dollars raised from evangelistic extortion, to fund so called prolife saturation false advertising/propaganda on your behalf, thereby circumventing the rules….

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    Mute Pete Gilmartin
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    May 14th 2018, 10:41 AM

    Varadkar should sue McGrath. That is a serious accusation to be waving about on national television.

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    Mute Andrew Corrigan
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    May 14th 2018, 3:38 AM

    here come the crazies

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    Mute Lovely Man
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    May 15th 2018, 5:07 PM

    If it turns out that the Irish government lobbied these companies to basically censor debate on a national referendum that will come back to haunt them and us both. Now that precedent is established nobody can complain when they interfere in the general election. Whats good for the goose….

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