Fine Gael senators Paul Bradford and Fidelma Healy Eames have voted against the Government on abortion legislation in the Seanad.
The vote of 41 in favour of the Bill and 15 against came at the end of
the second stage of the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill.
Committe stage of the Bill will begin tomorrow.
During today’s debate Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy Eames who said
“with a heavy heart” and aware of the impact on her future, that she
would not support the legislation. “I don’t want to lose the Fine Gael
party whip,” she said.
However, she wanted to exercise her “human right to make a
conscientious decision” and it saddened her “greatly” that Fine Gael had
broken its promise on abortion.
She said if she thought it would save a life of a woman like Savita
Halappanavar, she would support it. “It is disgraceful the way Savita’s
death has been hijacked to get abortion over the line,” she said.
She was speaking during the second day of the abortion Bill’s passage through the Seanad which will take at least a week.
Fine Gael Senator Paul Bradford said the Bill went against the fabric
of the party.
Fine Gael Senator Michael Mullins, whose support was
uncertain, said he was taking a “huge leap of faith” and supporting the
Bill because he trusted women not to try and circumvent legislation and
trusted medical profession to provide appropriate medical treatment .
Minister for Health Dr James Reilly told the Seanad that suicide was
“rare” in pregnancy but when it did happen it was a “tragedy”.
Speaking
ahead of the vote he said concerns about criminalisation of women
“reflects the State’s constitutional obligation” and does not create a
new offence but “brings it in line with current parameters”.
He did not
believe there would be a “young girl would ever find herself in jail” on
the matter.
He said a leaflet issued by Fine Gael before the last election stated
that abortion would not be legalised but this Bill was “clarifying” the
law not legalising abortion.
Among other Senators speaking against the Bill was Fianna Fáil
Senator Paschal Mooney.
He was not supporting the legislation because
section nine (the suicide clause) was the “rubicon” he “could not
cross”.
”I cannot vote for legislation that will result in the
“deliberate killing of the unborn” he said.
Moving into the area of the
mind was a “minefield”, he said.
Fianna Fáil Senator Terry Leyden,
who said he would be voting against the “blatant” abortion Bill. “No
amendment could change my vote unless section nine (the suicide clause)
was removed completely,” he said.
Fianna Fáil Senator Thomas Byrne said
he was opposing the Bill over the absence of time limits.
The Bill was
“not giving clarity required”, he said.
Fianna Fáil senators Denis
Donovan and Diarmuid Wilson said they would not be able to support the
Bill because of the suicide clause.
However Fianna Fail Senator Darragh O’Brien said he would not inhibit
the passage of the Bill at second stage but raised concerns about the
suicide clause which he hoped to see the Government clarify or amend at
committee stage.
Several Government senators spoke in favour of the Bill. Fine Gael
Senator Cáit Keane said she would not be “whipped” on the abortion Bill
but said she would vote for the legislation.
“I am supporting this Bill
of my own free will,” she said.
Labour Senator Jimmy Harte said he had received “terrible abuse” on the
issue in Donegal.
He was supporting the legislation for the “future
health” of his and everyone else’s daughters. The issue had been
“dodged” by Fianna Fáil in the past because it was “always looking down
the road to see what the Church would say”, he said.
If Ireland is its people rather than a piece of land then abortion is a
part of life here, Labour Senator Marie Moloney said. She said she was
supporting the Bill but would never support “abortion on demand”.
FIne Gael Senator Catherine Noone said she would be voting “with her
conscience” in favour of the Bill. She found people protesting outside
politicians’ homes to be “disturbing” and the anti-abortion side was
“often undermined by the actions of some”.
Independent Senator Mary-Ann O’Brien raised concern about the lack of
time limits in the legislation. “I find it extraordinary that there are
no limits....which week is it that the life becomes viable?” she asked.
Fine Gael Senator Eamonn Coughlan said he would support the
legislation.
“Laws against abortion do not stop abortion they just make
it more dangerous” he said. He found it “most disturbing” to receive
threats walking in and out of Leinster House, phone calls at home and
“mid-twisting” emails on the issue.
Independent Senator Jillian Van Turnhout said separating physical and
mental health in the public debate was a “retrograde step”.
She said the
section of the Bill containing the threat of a 14-year criminal
conviction was an “onerous sanction”.