Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Abortion legislation expected to be law by January 2019

The first Dáil sitting since the country voted to repeal the Eighth Amendment takes place this afternoon.

4 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, speaking during today's debate Oireachtas.ie Oireachtas.ie

TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has told the Dáil that he expects abortion legislation to be enacted in Ireland by January of 2019.

Speaking during Leaders Questions in Dáil Éireann this afternoon, Varadkar agreed with Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin that the Irish people ‘have indeed spoken’.

“The view of government is that it wants to legislate for the termination of pregnancies as soon as possible,” Varadkar said.

“But we don’t want to rush it either,” he said. “There will be people who don’t accept this result, and people who will wish to challenge” the resulting legislation, he added.

It’s important that we act with haste, but not with so much haste that we bring through bad legislation.

He said that he didn’t think it realistic that legislation would be enacted prior to the start of 2019, but that a first vote on the pending legislation should happen before the Dail’s summer break.

The reason for the delay will be mostly attributable to the time needed to license and regulate the various pills  required for non-surgical abortion, Varadkar said.

Fianna Fáil’s Martin meanwhile stated that the people had ‘spoken emphatically’, in voting last Friday to repeal the ‘cruel inflexibility’ of the Eighth Amendment.

He asked of Varadkar whether or not provision would be made so that women in Northern Ireland, were abortion is currently banned, could travel to the Republic for treatment, something the Taoiseach responded is “certainly something that we can look at”.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald meanwhile said she wished to acknowledge the contributions of certain members of the Oireachtas “who spoke out on the issue of abortion when it was perhaps not so easy to do so”.

She said that she hopes “that all members of the Oireachtas will recognise the will of the people” when it comes to passing the required legislation.

“I believe we can pass the necessary legislation promptly,” she said.

One of the most prominent TDs who campaigned against the referendum is Meath Sinn Féin deputy Peadar Tóibín. McDonald has since indicated that all members of her party are expected to vote per the party whip on any legislation.

5 Mary Lou McDonald Oireachtas.ie Oireachtas.ie

The Sinn Féin leader also called for a second repeal – of the 1995 abortion information act this time, the reasoning being to allow women who may travel for a termination in the next seven months to be able to bring their own medical records with them on their journey.

Varadkar said he is “open to the possibility” of repealing that law as a “discreet move”, but added it was important not to lose sight of the main legislation.

“I’m not saying it’s optimum,” said McDonald in response.

But the fact is those women and girls will still have to travel, and that will still pertain until the law changes.
We cannot leave women in the impossible situation that they leave by boat or plane with just a phone number in their pocket.

“I’m suggesting it as a mitigation that at a minimum women or girls who make the journey can do it with their own medical files, in a joined-up caring move,” she added.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
149 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Collins
    Favourite Dave Collins
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 1:17 PM

    RIP, she did a lot of good work as Irish ambassador I seem to remember..

    414
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joby Redmond
    Favourite Joby Redmond
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 2:17 PM

    Lovely woman who loved Ireland. She pushed and got visa restrictions for Irish people lifted. And she appears in the film Micheal Collins. RIP Jean.

    222
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Leonard
    Favourite Declan Leonard
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 2:18 PM

    A wonderful woman by all accounts. My father used to drive her about when she was here.

    181
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joan Doyle
    Favourite Joan Doyle
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 2:32 PM

    What an an amazing group of siblings

    147
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wheresmyjumper
    Favourite Wheresmyjumper
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 5:20 PM

    @Joan Doyle: ya especially Ted

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wheresmyjumper
    Favourite Wheresmyjumper
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 6:26 PM

    @Wheresmyjumper: well other than that girl he left for dead

    6
    See 7 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Walsh
    Favourite James Walsh
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 6:50 PM

    @Wheresmyjumper: Give it up ya gobsh!te, the Kennedys have always been friends of Ireland and take pride in their Irish heritage.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wheresmyjumper
    Favourite Wheresmyjumper
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 7:03 PM

    @James Walsh: so if someone takes pride in their Irish Heritage, they can drive a car drunk into the sea, leave a woman in car, take a boat to another town, hide for a night and then call for help? Good to know

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cowboy Paddy
    Favourite Cowboy Paddy
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 7:45 PM

    @Wheresmyjumper:
    No… But bringing up her brother’s bad choice over 50 years ago during the announcement of her death takes a special kind of thinking…

    You could talk about all the wonderful things her family did

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wheresmyjumper
    Favourite Wheresmyjumper
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 8:16 PM

    @Cowboy Paddy: i didn’t bring him up another poster did, he got away lightly, more than just a bad choice his family connections got him off murder

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cowboy Paddy
    Favourite Cowboy Paddy
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 11:52 PM

    @Wheresmyjumper:
    Have you any proof of murder?

    If you do why do with hold it from the Police all this time?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Teresa Ryan
    Favourite Teresa Ryan
    Report
    Jun 19th 2020, 5:41 PM

    @James Walsh: He still left a woman to drown. There’s no getting away from that.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Walsh
    Favourite James Walsh
    Report
    Jun 19th 2020, 9:05 PM

    @Teresa Ryan: I was talking about the Kennedy family in general, and not Ted in particular.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Garreth Byrne
    Favourite Garreth Byrne
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 2:49 PM

    She was one of the good Kennedys. She served her society well. She was a friend of the old country. R.I.P.

    120
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tuco
    Favourite tuco
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 3:05 PM

    Rip to a great woman.she really held Ireland in her heart.the last bloodline of the famous Kennedy dynasty

    116
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emer Caffrey
    Favourite Emer Caffrey
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 3:32 PM

    Ah, such a lovely woman, rest in peace

    89
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sylvia O'Regan
    Favourite Sylvia O'Regan
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 2:20 PM

    She had an interesting life. RIP.

    That being said, I hope that these political dynasties are coming to an end. Power shouldn’t be concentrated.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben Keohane
    Favourite Ben Keohane
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 5:15 PM

    @Sylvia O’Regan: not sure about the comment about dynasties. Her whole family were devoted to politics.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Caplis
    Favourite John Caplis
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 7:31 PM

    @Ben Keohane: And unfortunately they paid dearly for it. Both Jack and Bobby Kennedy helped to save the world from nuclear war during the Cuban Missiles Crisis. I wonder how the current president would have handled it?

    19
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cowboy Paddy
    Favourite Cowboy Paddy
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 7:38 PM

    @Sylvia O’Regan:
    Actually Jean was not a politician and never ran in a race in her life.

    She was diplomat and done a great service for Ireland and for that we can be forever thankful. This help to Ireland from the Kennedy’s was in a long line of help her family gave to Ireland .

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Waters
    Favourite John Waters
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 5:42 PM

    A strong lady driven by ambition and the will to help people of all race or religion.Did great work for disabled and disadvantaged children.Has left
    a wonderful legacy like here brothers before her .You have earned your rest
    R.IP.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Raymond Power
    Favourite Raymond Power
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 5:20 PM

    According to the embassy jfk visited Ireland “fifty five years ago” I’ll just leave that here…

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Lyons
    Favourite Tony Lyons
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 5:24 PM

    @Raymond Power: after he died very good

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martina Lowe
    Favourite Martina Lowe
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 5:35 PM

    A great lady I had da pleasure of meeting

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martina Lowe
    Favourite Martina Lowe
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 5:31 PM

    A lovely lady I had da pleasure of meeting her in 1994 in Tullamore was great to have met 1 of da famous Kennedy clan

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martina Lowe
    Favourite Martina Lowe
    Report
    Jun 18th 2020, 5:34 PM

    A lovely lady I had da pleasure of meeting her in 1994 in Tullamore was great to have met 1 of da famous Kennedy clan

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds