Renua Ireland has warned Fianna Fail that it is time to get off the fence when it comes to the 8th Amendment.
“The Party cannot keep ‘pleading the 5th’ on the 8th,” said party leader Cllr John Leahy.
“The decision of the Dail Committee to build on the crooked foundations set by the Citizens Assembly, by voting to diminish the constitutional rights of the unborn by declaring that ‘’Article 40.3.3 not be retained in full” is a defining moment in the move to erase the Right to Life of the un-born,” he said.
“It is a move made, prior to the conclusion of evidence gathering, which has completely stripped the Committee of any sense of independence, authority and credibility,” Cllr Leahy said.
On this vote RENUA is particularly concerned by the status and position of Fianna Fail, he outlined.
“The seconding of this motion by FF TD Lisa Chambers and the support given by FF TD Billy Kelleher and FF Senator Ned O’Sullivan is mystifying, given the welcome and positive decision of FF Árd Fheis delegates to ‘oppose any attempt to diminish the constitutional rights of the unborn’,” Cllr Leahy said.
Cllr Leahy claimed Fianna Fail grassroots members have now been cut adrift by their parliamentary party which has instead decided to embrace the position of Labour, Solidarity, Sinn Fein, People before Profit and other representatives of the extreme Left on reducing the rights of the unborn.
“We note that at the Committee FF TDs Anne Rabbitte and James Browne decided not to make a decision and abstained,” Cllr Leahy said.
“We respectfully submit that sitting on the fence is no longer enough.
Respect
“Democracy and respect means it is now incumbent on each and every FF and FG Parliamentary Party member to state clearly and unambiguously where they stand on this issue,” Cllr Leahy said.
“We also ask FF Leader Michael Martin to explain to the Irish people how his Parliamentary colleagues could so casually ignore the views of the grassroots members of FF, expressed so clearly at their recent Ard Fheis in the RDS,” the Renua leader said.
“Renua once again commits itself to campaigning for the retention of the 8th Amendment. Our position is clear and unambiguous. We support the retention of the 8th Amendment. No ‘If’s’. No ‘Buts’. No ‘Maybes’,” Cllr Leahy said.
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