Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

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 clinics, pharmacies and even bars with vending machines selling condoms could have a 100 m zone surrounding their premises in which a march would be prohibited. After all, "designated premises" means any premises at which contraceptive services are provided. Perhaps the idea of the annual March for Life becoming unsustainable brings great glee to the pro-abortion activists, who desire nothing more than to shut down opposing voices and enforce their ideological orthodoxy. Perhaps, however, they would benefit from thinking about the shoe being on the other foot. The Bill does not draw a distinction between speaking in favour of abortion and speaking against it. Therefore, all pro-choice rallies would similarly be constrained. Neither should be constrained, of course, and the freedoms of assembly and speech should be protected rather than outlawed, as they are under this Bill.