COMMENT: Dáil shies away from divisive issue of abortion
There is no appetite among politicians to open up another full-scale, divisive debate given the often personalised and heated discussion around the Protection of Life During Pregnancy legislation last year.
But who can not be moved by the latest shocking circumstances?
A woman in her 20s in early pregnancy is being kept alive in a hospital on a machine against the wishes of her family.
Relatives have applied to the High Court in a bid to get their desperate wish as doctors say they are stuck in a ‘legal limbo’ on the matter due to constitutional constraints.
The dilemma facing health officials is whether switching off the machine would breach the constitutional rights of the unborn child. The eighth amendment to the Constitution gives equal rights to life to the unborn and the mother.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny says the country cannot be convulsed in another abortion debate. Health Minister Leo Varadkar clearly disagrees and told a Dáil debate this week the eighth amendment was “too restrictive”.
While the Coalition is keen not to act in a “knee jerk” reaction to this tragic case, as Mr Kenny said yesterday, the family and their wishes for the women have brought the issue of abortion firmly back on the agenda.
Labour would be only too willing to see the amendment not just adjusted but completely taken out of the Constitution. Junior Health Minister Kathleen Lynch said as much in the Dail debate this week.
Labour’s disagreement with the constitutional constraint was evident as 12 of its TDs were absent for the vote on the abortion debate, which indirectly gave support to the opposition motion to amend the law.
Nonetheless, Ms Lynch did say a referendum on the issue in the 1980s was “aggressive and personal” for many.
Senior Fine Gael ministers yesterday privately indicated their opposition to further liberalising abortion laws in Ireland, insisting they are pro-life.
“This will not be an election issue. It [the election] will be about the economy,” one Fine Gael minister contended.
Like Mr Kenny, many in Fine Gael say their work on abortion was done in the protection of life legislation. Not all party colleagues agree.
Party TD Eoghan Murphy stuck his head out in the debate, saying the Government did in fact have a mandate to debate and resolve this issue during the lifetime of this Government.
Party colleague Jerry Buttimer also told the Dáil the public were ahead of politicians on the issue.
Mr Varadkar is also going further than his senior colleagues.
He said yesterday: “There are a number of things that will have to be addressed by future governments, but we are in a very difficult position now.”
Reporting of next week’s court case will be restricted. Attention will focus on what the legal consequences will be as well as how the family’s wishes can be addressed.
Tánaiste Joan Burton told the Dáil yesterday there was common ground on the issue of abortion. If so, this will have to be found soon through the law, the courts, or by mutual agreement in Government.
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