Enda Kenny accused of being misleading on abortion comments

PLC criticises Taoiseach’s remarks

The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has described Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s comments on abortion during a television interview as “downright misleading”.

During his participation in RTÉ’s The Meaning of Life programme last Sunday, Mr Kenny was questioned about his Government’s introduction of the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act 2013. Contending that the legislation was not about the introduction of abortion into Ireland, Mr Kenny insisted “it was about the requirement to legislate,  to provide clarity for the protections of a mother’s life or her child’s life” and added that Ireland’s position on abortion “had drifted for almost 20 years and been untouched and we had a number of high profile tragic cases because of a lack of clarification of the circumstances in which you have to protect the life of the mother and the life of the child or where you have to make a choice”.

Reacting to the Taoiseach’s words, the PLC’s Cora Sherlock criticised his perspective on matters.

“The Taoiseach’s remarks were downright misleading. He knows full well that the Government did not need to introduce the legislation to protect women’s lives. Women were already protected under the existing law.  

“It is sad and even pathetic that our Taoiseach keeps looking for opportunities to spin the meaning of the new law.”