Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday the Tánaiste’s Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, voiced her support for a date to be set for a referendum on the eighth amendment. It is welcome that a senior Minister has publicly backed calls for a referendum to be held as soon as possible.

The eighth amendment and its consequences impact on thousands of women. It affects women and their families in every corner of this State. For far too long, women have been denied dignity, respect and basic services. They had their voices silenced and their rights denied. We cannot be silent any longer. Up to ten women and girls leave this State every day to avail of terminations abroad. That is the reality. These are not just women on a spreadsheet or in a news report. They are our sisters, our mothers and our friends. We cannot continue to fail them. The eighth amendment is a relic of the past. It has to go and be replaced with compassion.

A recent report published by the UN Human Rights Committee found that the constitutional clause, which bans abortion for women carrying a foetus with a fatal abnormality, subjects women to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Sinn Féin, for its part, supports the right of a woman to seek termination of pregnancy where her life or mental health is at risk or in grave danger. We also support the choice to terminate pregnancy in the cases of fatal foetal abnormality, rape or incest. This requires a referendum and a repeal of the eighth amendment. It would also require the enactment of new legislation to allow for terminations in these cases.

By establishing the Citizens’ Assembly, the Government attempted to shirk its responsibility to address this most important matter. It was an attempt to block the Dáil from dealing with the eighth amendment and to stifle the obvious demand for a referendum as soon as possible. The Government’s political interests were placed ahead of the needs of women. Now that the assembly has concluded its deliberations on the eighth amendment, it is clear that people are not willing to stand for this treatment any longer. The assembly’s recommendations demonstrate a clear appetite for reform and change of the current situation regarding access to terminations. What is also clear is that there cannot be any further delay and any more kicking the can down the road on the part of the Government. The Oireachtas needs to do its job. We need to debate the issues and put the issue of the eighth amendment to the people in a referendum.

The women of Ireland need to know when this issue will be put. They need to know the Government’s mindset on the timing. Does the Tánaiste agree that a referendum should be held in the earliest possible timeframe? When will the Government allow for a referendum to be held? When will the people finally have their say on the eighth amendment?

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