The Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment have this evening opted not to retain the eighth amendment in full.
The proposal was made by Sinn Féin, and seconded by Fianna Fáil. Just last week, the latter voted in favour of a motion calling upon the party to vote against “any attempt to diminish the right to life of the unborn”.
The committee, formed in order to consider the findings of the Citizens’ Assembly – which recommended a significant liberalisation of Ireland’s abortion law – is today beginning its first public discussions on what recommendations to make on the substantive issue of the eighth amendment.
The committee has heard from a cross-section of experts on the legal and medical issues associated with abortion, with voices drawn from across the political spectrum, such as prominent pro-life academic and former Trinity professor William Binchy. The committee has also heard from a number of health professionals including the Master of the National Maternity Hospital at Holles Street, Dr Rhona Mahony, as well as the Irish Council of General Practitioners (ICGP) and representatives from the World Health Organisation – all of whom criticised the risk which the law posed to the safety of Irish women, with Mahony describing the law as an “unacceptable clinical risk”.
Last week, Senator Ronan Mullen and TD Mattie McGrath threatened to leave the committee, after they claimed that the proceedings were biased toward the pro-choice side. In a public statement issued outside of Leinster House, Mullen, a longstanding prominent pro-life voice, called the process a “sham” and a “farce”.
Both McGrath and Mullen voted against the proposal, along with Fine Gael TD Peter Fitzpatrick. Two representatives, Anne Rabbitte and and James Brown – both Fianna Fáil members – abstained in the vote.
In the last week, several committee members had put forward motions supporting a repeal of the amendment, as opposed to replacing or amending the constitutional provision.
Both the pro-choice and pro-life campaign are beginning to prepare for a referendum campaign, which Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has committed to holding in May or June 2018. The referendum wording is yet to be decided – it remains unclear whether Ireland will vote to repeal or replace the eighth amendment – so tonight’s vote is significant in revealing the thinking of a committee that will play a significant role in shaping the parameters of any vote on the eighth amendment.
In September, 30,000 people marched in Dublin to show their support for a repeal of the eighth amendment and for reform of Ireland’s abortion law. The repeal campaign has, over the last few months, attracted international attention, with international pressure growing on Ireland to reform its constitutional limitation on abortion.
Dominic McGrath contributed reporting to this piece.
