Results 1,281-1,300 of 1,888 for speaker:Sharon Keogan

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I too call for a day to be set aside to discuss Ireland’s response to the Ukrainians coming here. The Ministers for education, social protection, health, housing, local government and heritage, children, equality, disability, integration and youth, transport and justice should be required to update us on the measures implemented within their Departments.What safeguards are being put...

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, between lines 27 and 28, to insert the following: “(2) The indoor area of a building within the safe access zone, other than a building described in subsection (1)#(a) or (b), is not considered to be part of the safe access zone for the purposes of this Act.”.

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: This amendment seeks to avoid a scenario whereby discussing abortions in a coffee shop which happens to be in a safe access zone becomes a criminal act. As it stands, if two people were in a café within 100 m of a service provider and person A said to person B that he or she has been thinking about birth control bills and person B gives him or her any advice on such, either for or...

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: May I speak?

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: May I speak now?

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I am a little bit flabbergasted. I do not think anybody has read the amendment. It does prevent people protesting within the confines of the hospital or GP setting. This is about within 100 m of that zone. This is about the coffee shop that might be within that 100 m. It is about facilities outside of the hospital or GP setting. Under this Bill, anybody who brings up a conversation in...

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Yes.

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Vótáil.

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I move amendment No. 2: In page 4, line 19, to delete “, prayer or counselling”.

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: This amendment removes prayer and counselling from the list of prohibited actions the Bill prescribes as advising, persuading or informing behaviour. This is to enable the continuation of peaceful, non-confrontational prayer vigils in the vicinity of hospitals, which harm no one and are an important part of free expression for some people in this country. The Bill intends to prevent...

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: So our views are not important?

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I want to come back in on amendments Nos. 2 and 3. The right to prayer is in Bunreacht na hÉireann. The people of Ireland are being told that they do not have the right to pray outside designated premises of a service provider or healthcare professional who is involved or believed to be involved in the provision of termination of pregnancy services or contraceptive services, or a...

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I move amendment No. 4: In page 5, between lines 1 and 2, to insert the following: "(8) Nothing in this section, section 4, nor section 5 shall apply to an individual taking part in an organised march or rally which is ambulatory in nature and passes through a safe access zone as a matter of coincidence.".

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: According to the legislation, a demonstration relating to abortion or contraception cannot take place within a safe access zone, which is within 100 m of the entrance to or exit from a premises that offers abortion services or contraceptive services. In any urban area, planning a route for any such demonstration would virtually be impossible under this legislation. General practitioner...

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Vótáil.

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I move amendment No. 5: In page 5, to delete lines 27 to 37, and in page 6, to delete lines 1 and 2.

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: Section 5 of the Bill empowers the Garda Síochána to direct individuals so as to prevent an offence under this Bill occurring and grants significant latitude in that regard. If the Bill is passed in its current form, gardaí will have full discretion to break up and end any assembly near a safe access zone, as they need only suspect that a person intends to stray into such a...

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I move amendment No. 6: In page 6, to delete lines 3 to 6.

Seanad: Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (7 Apr 2022)

Sharon Keogan: I am also opposing section 6, which would allow for civil proceedings to be taken against anyone who conducts any of the activities listed in sections 3 and 4. Most of the same points regarding the threat of legal action and law abiding demonstrators being compelled to give up their rights to protest under duress also apply to section 6. The same level of caution the Director of Public...