Savita Halappanavar - Time to set a date to end hypocrisy

Over the last while Ireland has had to work very hard to try to restore its reputation. As part of that process we were all delighted to acknowledge the positive impact of a series of moderately significant events.

Time magazine gave Enda Kenny a ringing endorsement and we were all delighted that Ireland got some positive coverage through that piece. The same reaction followed a German publisher’s decision to name Mr Kenny as European of the Year. Ireland’s election for the first time to the UN Human Rights Council was another positive step.

When Ireland assumes the presidency of the EU in a few weeks that honour will afford us an opportunity to show that we are a decent, capable and trustworthy people, pragmatic enough to know the difference between reality and wishful thinking.