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IFN contributes to joint statement on Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill

22/5/2013

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6 people behind desk at press conference.
Press Release & Podcast: Group of organisations to raise common points and reservations regarding Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill

Following the Oireachtas hearings with medical and legal experts on the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill, a group of 11 organisations not represented at the hearings come together today at a press conference to demand a range of changes to the proposed legislation. Representatives of the organisations collectively called for the following amendments to the Bill:

1.      Offence

Criminalisation: the proposed legislation replaces the Offences against the Person Act 1861 rather than repealing it.  The government must repeal the relevant sections of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 and decriminalise abortion.  Criminalisation does not work; it causes pain and suffering to women, is incompatible with international human rights norms and according to the ECHR has a chilling effect on women and doctors

2.      Risk of loss of life from self-destruction

There is no medical or clinical justification for the requirement that a panel of doctors authorise an abortion on grounds of risk to life arising from risk of suicide due to an unwanted pregnancy. The requirement of a second psychiatrist does not apply when a pregnancy is not involved. The Mental Health Act 2001 requires only two medical practitioners to authorise the involuntary detention of an individual on mental health grounds, including risk to life by suicide. The proposed legislation requires up to seven practitioners to assess risk to life by suicide due to an unwanted pregnancy and authorise a termination on grounds of such a risk to life.

An arbitrary distinction is being drawn between physical risk to life and risk to life arising from risk of suicide due to an unwanted pregnancy. The current proposal requires unanimity between an obstetrician and two psychiatrists for the approval of abortion, giving the obstetrician – with no competence in suicide assessment power of veto over two consenting psychiatrists.  Consultation with the woman’s GP should only take place with her prior consent.

3.      Conscientious objection

There should be an explicit duty to treat in a medical emergency regardless of any conscientious objection.  Legislative provision must be made to ensure that medical professionals are required to declare anti-choice views, and that they have a duty to absent themself from any panel deciding on abortion.  Any panel should only consist of non-conscientious objectors.  It must be ensured that non-objecting providers are accessible and available throughout the country.

4.      Formal medical review procedures

A two-week review period is unrealistic and could result in serious and potentially fatal repercussions. Best international practice is that a decision is made within 3 days.  Realistic timeframes must be included in the new legislation.

5.       Broaden the scope of the legislation to include fatal foetal abnormalities and pregnancies resulting from rape and incest.

Organisations supporting these changes include:

National Women’s Council of Ireland, Action on X, Abortion Rights Campaign, Doctors for Choice, ICTU Women’s Committee, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Irish Family Planning Association, Irish Feminist Network, Termination for Medical Reasons Group, Cork Women’s Right to Choose Group and Galway Pro Choice Group


What: Press Conference – Common points and reservations on Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill


When: Wednesday, 22nd May, 10:30 am

Where: Buswells Hotel, Molesworth Street, Dublin



Listen to a podcast of the press conference here:



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Equality in Policy Making Seminar

13/4/2013

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Seminar: Embedding Equality in Policy Making.  The Equality Budgeting Campaign invites you to a seminar on equality and policy-making. The seminar will look at how equality fares in current approaches to policy-making in Ireland, and will establish what lessons can be learnt from other jurisdictions.  Event Details:  When: Saturday the twentieth of April Where: National Women’s Council of Ireland Offices, Parnell Square. Time: Eleven a.m. to four thirty p.m. More info: www.equalitybudgeting.ie  There will be childcare available on the day. Please let us know if you wish to avail of this.  The event includes a light lunch.  R.S.V.P. This is a free but strictly R.S.V.P. event. Email equalitybudgetingcampaign@gmail.com  Speakers:  Angela O'Hagan - Scottish Women's Budget Group Convenor, Patricia McKeown - Northern Ireland Regional Secretary of UNISON, Yvonne Strachan - DD Equality, Third Sector and Communities, Scottish Government, Tim Callan - Research Professor, ESRI, Emma Patterson - Equality Coalition Coordinator, Mary Lou McDonald - Vice President of Sinn Fein, Nat O'Connor - Director of TASC, Louise Bayliss – SPARK, Stephen Donnelly - Independent TD.
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Cake, biscuits, and Action on X: Letter-writing with the IFN

15/3/2012

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Picture
When: 6pm – 8pm, Tuesday, March 27th
Where: Exchange Dublin, Exchange Street Upper, Temple Bar
Why: To ask your TDs to support the X case legislation

Join the IFN on Tuesday, March 27th for an evening of tea, cake, and a bit of lobbying! We’ll be holding a letter-writing group in Exchange Dublin encouraging people to write to their local TDs asking them to support the X case legislation when it comes before the Dáil after Easter.

The aim of the Medical Treatment (Termination of Pregnancy in Case of Risk to Life of Pregnant Woman) Bill is to legislate for the 1992 Supreme Court judgment in the X case, which ruled that abortion is legal in Ireland when the life of a woman is at risk, including the threat of suicide.

Successive governments have failed to legislate for this basic human right but opposition TDs Clare Daly, Mick Wallace, and Joan Collins have put forward this Bill to implement the X case ruling. In advance of the Dáil debate, all TDs need to know their constituents support this legislation.

If you have a laptop you can bring along – great! If not, no worries – we’ll have a plentiful supply of paper and pens for some good old-fashioned handwritten letters. We’ll also have sample letters for inspiration and background information on the legislation.

Feel free to bring the kids along as we’ll have a colouring corner and a mountain of biscuits to keep them occupied. The event will run from 6pm to 8pm so feel free to drop in for half an hour or join us for the evening. Any questions? Contact us on irishfeministnetwork@gmail.com

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