The polls will open in less than 24 hours – when the people of Ireland will be asked to vote on whether to retain or repeal or the Eighth Amendment.
If passed the legislation will be changed to allow for abortions in Ireland in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, rape and incest – and unrestricted in all cases up to 12 weeks of pregnancy.
It has been an emotive issue since legislation was introduced into the Irish constitution in 1983 making it illegal to have an abortion in this country.
And in recent weeks and months the debate has intensified – not just across all forms of media but in every sitting room and kitchen in the country.
Ahead of the vote, we contacted all nine TDs who represent the people of Laois.
While Laois is currently a three-seater constituency, it will revert to a five-seater with Offaly in the next General Election – with over 10,000 Laois people around Portarlington, Killenard and Ballybrittas voting in a new four-seat Kildare South.
We emailed all nine sitting TDs from Laois, Offaly and Kildare South, asking them two questions: 1) Are you voting Yes or No in the Abortion Referendum this Friday?; 2) Explain your decision in no more than 150 words.
Of the nine TDs, contacted, four responded – Brian Stanley (Laois – Sinn Fein), Martin Heydon (Kildare South – Fine Gael), Fiona O’Loughlin (Kildare South – Fianna Fail) and Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy (Offaly – Fine Gael).
In the cases of those who didn’t respond we collated their views from their previous on-the-record statements.
Sean O Fearghail (Kildare South – Fianna Fail) as Ceann Comhairle has not stated his views on the Referendum.
The views of the remaining eight TDs is in keeping with the rest of the country: split.
Offaly Sinn Fein TD Carol Nolan has been suspended from her party for three months because of her No stance; Laois Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming is part of a significant group of 31 party colleagues on the No side – with their leader Michael Martin declaring his support for the Yes side; Offaly Fine Gael TD Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy doesn’t support abortion but is voting and canvassing for a Yes vote; Kildare South Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon had his reservations initially but is voting Yes.
Here are their views:
Brian Stanley (Sinn Fein – Laois)
1 – Are you voting Yes or No in the Abortion Referendum this Friday?
I am voting yes for the following reasons.
2 – Explain your decision in no more than 200 words?
Those who supported putting the 8th amendment in the constitution in 1983 argued that it would prevent Irish abortions. The two hundred thousand Irish women (since 1983) who have made the lonely journey to Liverpool or London to have a termination or have made the difficult choice to get illegal abortion pills on the internet and take them in secret and without medical supervision, have shown the folly of the 8th amendments.
As a Republican I firmly believe that we cannot keep shipping our “problems” to England. We can and must do better for Women who have a crisis pregnancy.
Recognizing these realities, Sinn Fein believe that abortion should be available in limited and restricted circumstances in this State.
Terminations should be allowed in cases where, the pregnancy is as a result of incest or rape, there is a serious risk to the life or health of the women or fatal foetal abnormality. This cannot happen without a majority Yes vote on Friday.
Martin Heydon (Fine Gael – Kildare South)
1 – Are you voting Yes or No in the Abortion Referendum this Friday?
I intend to vote yes.
2 – Explain your decision in no more than 200 words?
I considered the report and recommendations of the All Party Committee in detail. While I had my reservations initially, I do see why they came to the conclusions they did.
Weighing up all factors, I believe we should trust doctors and women and change our laws to be more compassionate to those experiencing crisis pregnancy.
Fiona O’Loughlin (Fianna Fail – Kildare South)
1 – Are you voting Yes or No in the Abortion Referendum this Friday?
Yes
2 – Explain your decision in no more than 200 words?
Friday’s vote is about whether we as a people think it is right to continue to have a law that forces women to travel to other countries, generally alone, and without medical support, after being told in many cases that their much wanted baby will not survive-or as a victim of rape/incest.
Unless the 8th amendment is removed, no legislation can ever be introduced to support these women.
I have read the Committee reports, listened to harrowing personal stories, thought long and hard about my vote, and have come to the conclusion that the 8th amendment has caused too many legal, medical and ethical arguments on what is essentially a very private and personal issue.
If I wrestled with my own decision on how to vote, it is nothing to the decision that women with crisis pregnancies have to make every day.
If as a society we are sincere about our compassion for women-we need to be sincere in respecting and trusting the decision they make in consultation with medical professionals.
Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy (Fine Gael – Offaly)
1 – Are you voting Yes or No in the Abortion Referendum this Friday?
I can confirm that I am voting Yes and furthermore I am actively canvassing for a Yes Vote with Offaly and Laois Together for Yes
2 – Explain your decision in no more than 200 words?
I want to emphasise that I am personally not in support of abortion but based on the evidence presented at the Joint Committee, especially that of the medical profession and in particular the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, we as legislators cannot pretend that it is not happening in Ireland and we have a duty to act.
If we want to reduce the existing need for abortion services here, we must ensure that we have better access to contraception and modern sexual health education.
I think it is important to bear in mind that this matter is not a party political issue and I would echo sentiment previously expressed that the Eighth Amendment is one of the most complex and contentious topics in Irish society and there are many voices, many opinions and many organizations who participate in this debate.
I feel it is important to note that the Irish people will decide the way forward on this issue when they get the opportunity to vote on the referendum on Friday the May 25. Everyone should have an opportunity to participate in this debate.
Charlie Flanagan (Fine Gael – Laois)
Laois-based Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan is in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment.
“I support repeal, I don’t believe this is an issue that should be in our constitution,” he said earlier this year.
“I want to acknowledge that this has been a very challenging issue, a very sensitive issue, over the past 35 years.
“I believe it’s important now in the context of the commitment given in the Programme for Partnership Government that we move on to the next stage.”
Sean Fleming (Fianna Fail – Laois)
The Fianna Fail party is split over the Referendum. They voted at their Ard Fheis last year against Repeal but the party have a free vote on the issue – and leader Michael Martin declared his support for the Yes side earlier this year.
Laois TD Sean Fleming is one of 31 Fianna Fail TDs on the No side. It’s a group that also includes Fianna Fail deputy leader Dara Calleary and finance spokesperson Michael McGrath. That group posed for a photo outside Dail Eireann recently.
Speaking to the Leinster Express earlier this year, Deputy Fleming stated that he had a “big problem” with allowing abortion up to 12 weeks.
Barry Cowen (Fianna Fail – Offaly)
Barry Cowen is one of the Fianna Fail TDs that is in support of Repeal.
Speaking in the Dail earlier this year he said that after reviewing the data, “I have to support repeal”.
Mr Cowen described the issue of abortion as a challenge “that has tortured the minds of this nation”.
He said the debate “has often portrayed women in a very negative light”.
It is time for this to stop, to prevent the name calling and judgments, and “to support and protect women”.
Carol Nolan (Sinn Fein – Offaly)
Offaly-based Sinn Fein TD Carol Nolan was suspended for three months from the party in March after she voted against the party whip on whether there be a referendum or not.
She is one of two Sinn Fein TDs on the No side – Meath’s Peadar Toibin is the other – and is actively campaigning for a No vote.
“I voted according to my conscience and did not vote in favour of the legislation put before me as it was greatly at odds with my strong pro-life values,” she told the Offaly Express in March.
“As a Republican and pro-life woman I firmly believe that the right to life of all unborn children should be protected and defended and that each and every child should be cherished equally. The right to life is after all a fundamental human right.”
SEE ALSO – Big rise is Laois electorate ahead of Eight Amendment Referendum
