Labour and Fine Gael vote down motion on ‘X Case’ legislation

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

'It is a scandal that, for 20 years, seven governments have failed in their duties towards women on this issue.' – Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

THE majority of Labour TDs fell into line with their Fine Gael colleagues in the Dáil on Wednesday night to defeat a Sinn Féin Private Member’s Bill calling for legislation arising from the ‘X Case’ in 1992 to allow for abortion in cases where there is a risk to the life of a pregnant woman.

Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin told TDs there is no excuse for delay or prevarication on the issue of legislation for the ‘X Case’. He challenged those who accused Sinn Féin of being opportunistic in putting forward the motion.

“I want to refute the spurious accusations that people who have come onto the streets in the wake of this tragedy are opportunists. The same accusation has been made against Sinn Féin in relation to this motion. I think it is a most insensitive accusation. There is no party political advantage in this for anyone. And there is certainly none in it for Sinn Féin. Far from it.

“We do need immediate action. We have waited too long and have not received even an indication or a signal that the Government will legislate. I repeat – will legislate. That intention should be made clear by Government now, here, tonight. The Government’s failure to give that commitment is very worrying.

“So too was Minister of State Kathleen Lynch’s exhortation that we ‘let wiser heads prevail’. Is that how she and her Labour Party fellow ministers in Government justified their decision to back Health Minister James Reilly while their party colleague sacrificed herself on the pyre of accountability and standards in ministerial office. ‘Wiser heads’ how are you? Leave it to your betters? Such rubbish!

“There is no excuse for delay. We have had 20 years of delay and prevarication. The issue can no longer be avoided.”

Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD said:

“I should not be making this speech tonight. The thousands of people who took to the streets in the freezing cold on Saturday to demand this Government introduce legislation for 'X' should not have had to be there.

“The people have spoken and it is time for this government to introduce legislation for the 'X Case'. The Government amendment to our motion simply notes that the Expert Group is examining the matter, and it will propose a range of options as to how the Government should respond to the ‘complex and sensitive issues’.

“Convening the Expert Group was a cop-out on the government’s behalf. They have known since 1992 that legislation is needed when the Supreme Court judgment in 'X' was handed down. This was reiterated by the European Court of Human Rights in 2010 when they delivered their judgment in the ABC v Ireland case.

“It is a scandal that, for 20 years, seven governments have failed in their duties towards women on this issue. I was a teenager when the ‘X Case’ took place. Never did I think that I would be standing here, at nearly 40 years of age as an elected member of the Dáil seeking legislation on that very issue.

“Women should know that if their life is in danger they will be saved – and doctors should know that if a woman’s life is in danger, they can treat them appropriately. It is time now, finally, for legislation to protect the rights of women as decided by the Supreme Court in 1992. This should be done in a reasoned, tolerant and considered manner and with maximum cross-party consensus.”

The Government defeated the Sinn Féin motion on an amendment by 88 votes to 53.