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Post by Beinidict Ó Niaidh on Feb 22, 2011 8:49:31 GMT
Re, my last post, I got this from Deputy Fergus O'Dowd: Dear Constituent, Fine Gael is opposed to the legalisation of abortion. Fine Gael will establish an all-party Oireachtas Committee, with access to medical and legal expertise, to consider the implications of the recent ruling of the European Court of Human Rights and to make recommendations. Such a process would, we believe, be the best way of examining the issues in a way that respects the range of sincerely-held views on this matter. Fine Gael’s representatives will bring to the proposed all-party committee a clear commitment that women in pregnancy will receive whatever treatments are necessary to safeguard their lives, and that the duty of care to preserve the life of the baby will also be upheld. Fine Gael is opposed to research conducted on human embryos, and favours alternative stem cell research that does not involve human embryos such as adult stem cell and umbilical cord research. Kind regards, Fergus O'Dowd Needless to say, this is an excellent response, though it is a cut and paste job. See this press release from Family and Life: www.familyandlife.org/Abortion-and-Embryo/2134/8/26.htmlFine Gael seem very confident of their ability to rein Labour in, if they even need Labour.
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Post by Alaisdir Ua Séaghdha on Feb 22, 2011 14:38:51 GMT
Fine Gael seem to be sending out a clear message to Labour in this statement.
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Post by Beinidict Ó Niaidh on Feb 23, 2011 21:11:01 GMT
Cllr Thomas Clare, the New Vision Independent running in Louth describes himself as a vehement pro-lifer.
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Post by hibernicus on Feb 24, 2011 10:36:52 GMT
Here is a Politics.ie thread on SF's abortion policy (started by pro-aborts who thought SF was insufficiently pro-abort. The consensus appears to be that they are as equivocal as the other parties. I must say the CSP's view that their voters should be unequivocally asked to transfer to SF seems a bit odd in view of the party statement cited below (and reference in another post on the thread to an adams interview with HOT PRESS 23 February issue in which he favours exceptions for rape, incest, life or health of mother etc) - especially since some CSP activists not only opposed the last attempt at an abortion amendment for not going far enough, but accused pro-lifers who supported it of being pro-abortion, though the proposal was far more restrictive than current SF policy! www.politics.ie/sinn-fein/153453-what-official-shinner-policy-abortion.html22nd February 2011, 03:00 PM Pat Mc Larnon Politics.ie Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: North Belfast Posts: 2,817 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote: Originally Posted by Quinn1505 Sinn Féin Assembly group leader, John O'Dowd MLA has said that the party voted to support a DUP motion on the draft guidelines on abortion issued to medical staff by the Department of Health. Speaking after listening carefully to all the contributions to the debate Mr O'Dowd said: "Sinn Féin is not in favour of abortion nor do we believe that the 1967 British Abortion Act should be extended to the Six Counties. Instead all possible means of education and support services should be put in place to prevent crisis pregnancies. "We would not support any attempt to make abortion more widely available but we do accept that health professionals working in this field need clear guidance. "We have been consistent in our approach. When the abortion issue was discussed in the last Assembly Sinn Féin placed on record our very firm opposition to the extension of the British 1967 Act to the north." Also from the statement; Sinn Fein is opposed to the attitudes and forces in society, which pressurise women to have abortions, and criminalise those who make this decision. In cases of rape, incest or sexual abuse, or where a woman's life and health is at risk or in grave danger, we accept that the final decision must rest with the woman. "We have a responsibility to not only address the issue of abortion but also the fact that between 5,000 and 10,000 Irish women travel to Britain each year for abortions. The way to tackle the related issues of crisis pregnancies and abortion is through comprehensive sex education, full access to child-care and comprehensive support services, including financial support for single parents.
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Post by hibernicus on Feb 24, 2011 10:39:41 GMT
The current issue of CATHOLIC VOICE has an ad for a pro-life Independent called Declan Waters, but in a typical display of amateurism it doesn't say what constituency he is contesting. For the record, he's standing in Waterford and is probably worth a protest vote. Link to his website below: www.christiandemocrats.ie/
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Post by hibernicus on Feb 24, 2011 10:43:46 GMT
te IRISH TIMES yesterday had a sad little account of canvassing in Dublin central with Paul O'Loughlin of the CSP at the weekend. He was onhis own and hindered by the fact that his employers (he works in a shop) wouldn't give him time off for canvassing. How is it that in a constituency where they have stood several times (and in which o'Loughlin recalls having 7-8 canvassers in an earlier election) there seem to be no activists apart from the candidate? (One possibility may be that the reference to 7-8 canvassers is to the by-election in which CSP activists from elsewhere in Dublin would have come to help, whereas in this election they are in their own constituencies).
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Post by hibernicus on Feb 24, 2011 14:31:51 GMT
FAMILY AND LIFE submit a list of pro-life Independents. I wish they had done this a week ago when there would be more time to spread the word. Many Pro-Life Independents Seeking Election : 25th Feb 11 Many Pro-Life Independents Seeking Election The main parties have by now set out their position on the crucial issues of abortion and human embryo research. Some of these are quite encouraging, although, of course, in every party there will be those who are more or less committed to the party policy. It is worth bearing in mind that there are also independent candidates who have given pro-life commitments, as well as smaller parties such as the Christian Solidarity Party (CSP) who pursue a solidly pro-life policy. The following candidates have declared themselves to be opposed to legislation permitting abortion (the names in bold have given a stronger commitment): Cavan / Monaghan: John McGuirk (New Vision Alliance) and Seamus Treanor Clare: Cllr James Breen Cork North Central: Padraig O'Sullivan (NVA) and Harry Rae (CSP) Cork South Central: Eric Isherwood Donegal North East: Ryan Stewart (NVA) and Dessie Shiels Donegal South West: Stephen McCahill Dublin Central: Paul O'Loughlin (CSP) Dublin North West: Michael Larkin (CSP) Dublin South: Jane Murphy Dublin South Central: Colm Callanan (CSP) Dun Laoghaire: Daire Fitzgerald (CSP) Galway West: Mike Cubbard, Deputy Noel Grealish, Uinseann Holmes and Eamon Walsh Kerry North / Limerick West: Dr Bridget O'Brien Kildare South: Cllr Patrick Kennedy Limerick City: Colm O’Donoghue (CSP) Louth: Thomas Clare (NVA) and Frank Godfrey Mayo: Martin Daly (NVA) and Cllr Michael Kilcoyne Meath West: Manus McMeanmain (CSP) Sligo / North Leitrim: Cllr Michael Clarke and Gabriel McSharry Waterford: Cllr Joe Conway and Declan Waters Wicklow: Charles Keddy and Gerry Kinsella Please note that in all of the above constituencies, there may also be strongly pro-life candidates from the main political parties. www.familyandlife.org/Abortion-and-Embryo/2145/8/26.html
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Post by Beinidict Ó Niaidh on Feb 24, 2011 20:38:28 GMT
This is a message re: pro-life matters from the Fianna Fáil candidate in Louth, Senator James Carroll:
Dear Constituent,
Fianna Fáil’s position on abortion remains unchanged and will maintain Ireland’s ban on abortion. We will uphold the right of the Irish people, and the Irish people alone, to decide on Ireland’s abortion laws. Our track record in this regard is clear. Fianna Fáil Taoisigh negotiated legally binding guarantees, which were attached to the Treaties of Maastrict and Lisbon, ensuring that nothing in those Treaties, or in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, affects the operation in Ireland of Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution.
The Government mounted a robust defence of Ireland’s abortion laws before the European Court of Human Rights in A, B and C vs. Ireland. The Court found that the Irish Constitution is not incompatible with the ECHR, and that States enjoy a margin of appreciation regarding protecting the right to life of the unborn, thereby affirming the Government’s view that it is the Irish people who have the right to decide on abortion.
Fianna Fáil will ensure that any new regime put in place in respect for assisted human reproduction fully respects the right to life of the unborn. In this context, Fianna Fáil in Government has insisted that all EU research funding programmes respect Ireland’s national position in relation to embryo research through the ethical subsidiarity clause.
We have ensured that no embryo research in Ireland has been or can be funded by the EU. In the negotiations on the 7th EU Framework Research Programme, Ireland played an influential part in crafting a compromise whereby the Commission undertook not to submit proposals for research activities that destroy human embryos. I can also confirm that we are opposed to research on embryos and will introduce legislation preventing it happening in Ireland.
Best Wishes,
James Carroll.
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Post by Beinidict Ó Niaidh on Feb 24, 2011 20:40:52 GMT
FAMILY AND LIFE submit a list of pro-life Independents: Cavan / Monaghan: John McGuirk (New Vision Alliance) and Seamus Treanor Clare: Cllr James Breen Cork North Central: Padraig O'Sullivan (NVA) and Harry Rae (CSP) Cork South Central: Eric Isherwood Donegal North East: Ryan Stewart (NVA) and Dessie Shiels Donegal South West: Stephen McCahill Dublin Central: Paul O'Loughlin (CSP) Dublin North West: Michael Larkin (CSP) Dublin South: Jane Murphy Dublin South Central: Colm Callanan (CSP) Dun Laoghaire: Daire Fitzgerald (CSP) Galway West: Mike Cubbard, Deputy Noel Grealish, Uinseann Holmes and Eamon Walsh Kerry North / Limerick West: Dr Bridget O'Brien Kildare South: Cllr Patrick Kennedy Limerick City: Colm O’Donoghue (CSP) Louth: Thomas Clare (NVA) and Frank Godfrey Mayo: Martin Daly (NVA) and Cllr Michael Kilcoyne Meath West: Manus McMeanmain (CSP) Sligo / North Leitrim: Cllr Michael Clarke and Gabriel McSharry Waterford: Cllr Joe Conway and Declan Waters Wicklow: Charles Keddy and Gerry Kinsella I'm surprised Cllr Joe Bonner who is an independent candidate in Meath East isn't mentioned. He gave a strong pro-life committment in previous elections.
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Post by hibernicus on Feb 25, 2011 18:14:56 GMT
This is jsut a personal thought, but if I were voting in tipperary South (where I notice there is no candidate listed) I would give a vote to Martin mansergh. I am sure I would disagree with him on many issues, but he has been quite critical in recent times of people who advocate hte total secularisation of the Irish public sphere, and he did good work in Northern Ireland. It is I who speak, not the Lord - feel free to disagree, and if you have a NUI senate vote next month give no. 1 to Ronan Mullen.
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Post by hibernicus on Feb 25, 2011 18:16:14 GMT
BTW I notice a slight flaw in the Family & Life list - Jane Murphy in Dublin South is CSP but they don't give her party affiliation.
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Post by hibernicus on Mar 1, 2011 13:55:22 GMT
A couple of thoughts on the results: (1) the usual poor showing by CSP, and it should be noted that this has consequences - when a poster on Politics.ie started a thread noting arguing that Bacik's defeat indicated popular rejection of abortion, his opponents promptly cited the poor CSP vote in the same constituency as a counter-argument. (2) Again, where CSP transfers could be traced it is clear they went all over the place, and the leadership's call to transfer to Sinn Fein apparently had no impact. (Who were the 12 geniuses in Dun Laoghaire who voted 1 CSP, 2 Bacik)? (3) Various Labour squawks reported in the IRISH TIMES suggest that campaigning pro-lifers highlighting their position on abortion (for which, BTW, the current IRISH CATHOLIC has a very strong piece on the links between Labour and the pro-abortion group Choice Ireland, which told their representatives that it favours abortion on demand at any stage in pregnancy) had someimpact on their vote and may have cost them a couple of marginal seats. This is good but I suspect it won't make them change their position. Instead, we can expect complaints about "smears" even though their party policy was accurately described. (4) FAMILY AND LIFE should have got out its list of pro-life independents as soon as possible after nominations closed. Many of these candidates are not known outside a small circle, and 2-3 days before polling is not enough to mobilise sympathisers and get them canvassing.
My big worry is that in a FG-Lab coalition there will be a tradeoff - given that the social issues are part of Labour's core identity and FG are lukewarm (and pro-lifers have not mobilised enough support to make them fear electoral backlash) FG will let Labour have its way on these issues in return for economic concessions.
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Post by Alaisdir Ua Séaghdha on Mar 1, 2011 20:21:21 GMT
Good to think prolifers had some effect on Labour support - though I suspect a lot of Catholics voted for them ignorant of their pro-abortion and 'equality' agenda.
Points about the CSP are correct - I suspect a dozen Labour supporters thought they could have fun at Daire FitzGerald's expence. I used to always wonder that in NI European elections, some of Ian Paisley's votes invariably transferred to the SF candidate. However CSP are a lost cause.
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Post by Askel McThurkill on Mar 1, 2011 20:30:00 GMT
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Post by Askel McThurkill on Mar 8, 2011 20:11:57 GMT
I'd like to recommend Mick Langan as a worthy candidate for the NUI Seanad Seat. And Marc Coleman for the University of Dublin Seanad Seat.
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