Taoiseach on abortion - Admirable impartiality

Taoiseach Enda Kenny deserves full praise for his courageous and principled political stance on the highly emotive, and divisive issue of abortion legislation.

As most people know only too well, it is easy to pass judgement on those who hold views contrary to one’s own, especially when matters of intense public controversy are at issue. It is far more difficult, however, to put aside deeply held personal convictions and give unflinching support to legislation which may conflict with a personal position.

As Mr Kenny made absolutely clear yesterday, he is a Catholic but not a “Catholic Taoiseach”. As leader of the Government, his role is to represent all the people of the Republic. And when occasion demands, as it clearly does in this case, he is constitutionally responsible for legislating in the public interest and duty bound to give legal certainty and clarity to the law.

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. The Catholic Bishops have strongly criticised the proposed Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill 2013, which the Cabinet released last night. But no one has the right to send hate mail of the kind received by the Taoiseach, who has shown remarkable and truly admirable impartiality, courage and leadership throughout the abortion debate.