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.

Independent Senator Sharon Keogan Oireachtas.ie

Senator objects to 'deeply personal attack' after being labelled 'crude and cold' during committee

Sharon Keogan says a comment she made to representative for Irish Gay Dads was “misinterpreted”.

INDEPENDENT SENATOR SHARON Keogan has written to the chair of the Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy after she was asked to apologise for comments she made during yesterday’s meeting. 

Keogan had told the meeting that she was opposed to surrogacy on the grounds that it was “harmful, exploitative and unethical”, adding that she “does not believe it is everyone’s right to have a child”. 

The committee had been hearing evidence from witnesses with experience of surrogacy, including those who had had children conceived using assisted human reproduction.

Following Keogan’s contribution, Elaine Cohalan of the Assisted Human Reproduction Coalition urged committee members to use respectful language. 

“Inflammatory language, and using undefined terms don’t benefit the debate,” she said.

In a letter sent to chair of the committee Jennifer Whitmore TD of the Social Democrats, Keogan rejected that her comments were inflammatory and took issue with “this characterisation of my words”.

Keogan claims that “the tone of the meeting changed” following Cohalan’s remarks and that several members subsequently referred to her words as “inflammatory”.  

Independent Senator Lynn Ruane told yesterday’s hearing that members of the committee should not oppose matters because of “personal bigotry” but should “critically engage” with a topic. 

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

Ruane accused Keogan of being “crude and cold” and asked her to “check your Christian values”. Keogan has taken issue this “deeply personal attack”.

“I wish to object to this deeply personal attack on me during a public meeting and contend that the language used by the member was inflammatory, discriminatory and sought to characterise me and my contribution unfairly,” Keogan writes. 

Sinn Féin’s Kathleen Funchion TD was acting chair of yesterday’s hearing and suspended the committee after Keogan said that Gearoid Kenny Moore, a representative for Irish Gay Dads, was “extremely lucky to be here today.”

Keogan says she was not given an opportunity to explain what she intended to say: 

The meeting was suspended, and I was asked to apologise to a witness. I believe that no apology is due because the acting Chair shut me down while I was trying to finish a point which she arbitrarily decided to misinterpret. I was not allowed to finish the point when I tried again later.

“During a brief private meeting of the Committee, the acting chair proceeded to warn me that the witnesses could sue me under privilege. This is incorrect and that warning should be withdrawn and matters around parliamentary privilege advised to the acting chair. This warning was completely unwarranted and without foundation.”

Repeating comments she made during yesterday’s hearing, Keogan has categorised the committee as “an echo chamber” and said that evidence should be obtained “from a wide variety of witnesses with differing views”.

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
84 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 mcgoo
    Favourite mcgoo
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 9:32 AM

    Best wishes to mum and new son! It does highlight however the problem of having medical facilities in the city centre. The same is the case with the location of the new children’s hospital at St James’. They are really only accessible to the people who lives right next to them.

    243
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Phil Blanc
    Favourite Phil Blanc
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 9:33 AM

    Yes. We should build hospitals on every street corner. That woudl be hugely cost effective and incredibly safe.

    71
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brown Boots
    Favourite Brown Boots
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 10:31 AM

    So it’s true, Labour has gone underground! Can’t kick it with the big boys and now goin all sinn fein to try and be popular!

    39
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The spokesman
    Favourite The spokesman
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 10:41 AM

    I think the big problem is that people from north county Dublin don’t want to have babies outside of county Dublin when Drogheda is alot closer and accessible than holes street. That’s the issue here too I suspect.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Celtic_Horizon
    Favourite Celtic_Horizon
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 10:43 AM

    To be fair Drogheda hasn’t been in news for any good reason of late!!

    104
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The spokesman
    Favourite The spokesman
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 11:03 AM

    @ Celtic, well the only death of a mother giving birth in the last 10 years was in Holles Street last year and to be fair its onky the A&E in Drogheda that’s been in the news. The maternity units are brilliant.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tweety McTweeter
    Favourite Tweety McTweeter
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 1:05 PM

    Out of one tunnel and into another

    106
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute duisigheire
    Favourite duisigheire
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 9:36 AM

    maybe they could call him “Dug”

    84
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tweed Cap
    Favourite Tweed Cap
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 9:46 AM

    Or “Subterraneaninfrastructure” it’s got a nice ring to it.

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Get Lost Eircodes
    Favourite Get Lost Eircodes
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 9:49 AM

    Northbound yer dinner is ready…

    117
    See 5 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Horton
    Favourite Brian Horton
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 9:55 AM

    They should have gone by Howth and could call him Cliff

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute gus sheridan
    Favourite gus sheridan
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 9:56 AM

    Me hole might be a good one or maybe poul

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute gus sheridan
    Favourite gus sheridan
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 9:58 AM

    Maybe call him Orifice…

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Kelly's Ego
    Favourite Alan Kelly's Ego
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 10:02 AM

    Kid will never have to worry about being bored

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute gold3n
    Favourite gold3n
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 10:13 AM

    Here “Fairview”

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fred Johnson
    Favourite Fred Johnson
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 9:25 AM

    Couldn’t she have waited 5 minutes to get through the tunnel rather than block up traffic! ;-)

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Clark
    Favourite John Clark
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 9:28 AM

    These underground births are only a fad………

    92
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Clark
    Favourite John Clark
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 9:56 AM

    The first thing the poor mother has to to do is pay the toll. Welcome to Ireland young boy,

    101
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Moore
    Favourite David Moore
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 12:22 PM

    Obviously never been at a birth

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Clark
    Favourite John Clark
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 12:30 PM

    I have been at three births, the first one the nurses had to give me the wife’s oxygen. I’m a sad little man.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michele Tobin
    Favourite Michele Tobin
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 10:41 AM

    Friend was in labour with her husband speeding on M1to hospital. Guards stopped them and gave them an escort to the Rotunda and then speed off. Unfortunately she was attending Holles st.!

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RTibe
    Favourite RTibe
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 10:24 AM

    Now his birth certificate must state “Dublin port tunnell” as place of birth. Marty Pellow from Wet Wet Wet was born in a public toilet!

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute headbeagle
    Favourite headbeagle
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 1:24 PM

    Or just conceived there?

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute marian doherty
    Favourite marian doherty
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 11:16 AM

    Aww congrats well done to all involved hope baby boy is thriving x

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ana Nonymous
    Favourite Ana Nonymous
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 12:13 PM

    Meh my friend had her baby on her own in a taxi in the port tunnel and didn’t make the news – the child turned 10 the other day!

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Susanne Morgan
    Favourite Susanne Morgan
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 1:05 PM

    Since the tunnel only opened on 20th December 2006 (according to it’s own website) that ‘story’ has a problem – either your friend was fibbing or the child is only 9 …

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute majella rock
    Favourite majella rock
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 12:41 PM

    He should be called nemo because he was born under the sea

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Carino
    Favourite David Carino
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 10:42 AM

    Hope the little fella didn’t get tunnel vision ..

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute gus sheridan
    Favourite gus sheridan
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 9:57 AM

    Fred Johnson you miserable owl fart, where were you born?

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ally
    Favourite Ally
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 10:20 AM

    Gus- it was clearly a joke ffs

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brown Boots
    Favourite Brown Boots
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 10:30 AM

    Ah ha ha! Have a coffee Gus.

    11
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Get Lost Eircodes
    Favourite Get Lost Eircodes
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 10:42 AM

    We need a satire font for this page for slow people…

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shawn Rahoon
    Favourite Shawn Rahoon
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 12:32 PM

    Most importantly Is the kid a Northsideaw or a Sawtsoyder, loyke?

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cez Miname
    Favourite Cez Miname
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 5:46 PM

    Should call him Porthole

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joey_Westland
    Favourite Joey_Westland
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 4:24 PM

    Probably grow up to be a coalminer.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall Cassidy
    Favourite Niall Cassidy
    Report
    Sep 9th 2016, 10:49 AM

    Baby in bore. More like

    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