Cathal BarryThe Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has welcomed Fianna Fail’s decision to affirm its commitment to a pro-life policy and oppose any attempts to repeal the Eighth Amendment.
Fianna Fáil members passed a motion at the party’s Ard Fheis at the weekend opposing any repeal of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Article 40.3.3), which provides the only remaining legal protection for the unborn in Ireland.
Commenting on the decision, PLC Deputy Chairperson, Cora Sherlock, said she was “pleased” to see that Fianna Fáil members had “recognised the importance” of the Eighth Amendment. “It is imperative that Fianna Fáil now builds on this commitment and works toward the repeal of the unjust abortion legislation introduced by Enda Kenny in 2013,” she said.
Ms Sherlock added that sinceits passing in 1983, the Eighth Amendment “has meant that Irish women receive all necessary medical treatment during pregnancy and at the same time has ensured that the unborn child’s right to life is protected”.
“Despite the abortion legislation introduced by Fine Gael in 2013 which permits abortion throughout the full nine months of pregnancy in the case of threatened suicide with no medical evidence to back it up, the constitutional protection contained in the Eighth Amendment must be robustly defended,” she said.