Minister resigns following historic abortion vote

Posted by Jim on July 15, 2013

Abortion is to become available in the 26 Counties in strictly limited  circumstances following a final vote on highly contentious legislation  early this morning.

 

 The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill will allow abortion where  the life of the mother is threatened, either through ill-health or  through the possibility of suicide.

 

 After a fractious and chaotic two-day debate, which saw allegations of  drunkenness and lewd behaviour levelled at legislators, the government  won the final vote by 127 votes to 31.

 

 Fine Gael’s Lucinda Creighton voted against the government on the bill  and immediately submitted her letter of resignation as Minister of State  for European Affairs to the Taoiseach.

 

 The legislation was drafted to bring legal certainty to the 1992 Supreme  Court ‘X case’ ruling that abortion can take place to save the life of  the mother.  Its introduction followed the death in a Galway hospital of  Savita Halappanavar, who died while miscarrying her pregnancy after  failing to receive a potentially life-saving termination.

 

 But the inclusion in the legislation of a mechanism for women to obtain  abortion if they become suicidal as a result of pregnancy provoked a  giant protest of 35,000 to take to the streets in Dublin last weekend,  and a further protest is planned for this weekend.

 

 Even the requirement that a panel of three doctors certify the mental  ill-health and suicidal tendencies of the mother before a termination is  permitted failed to avert the controversy.

 

 The debate caused sharp political divisions within the main political  parties, with both Fine Gael and Sinn Fein announcing a crackdown on  party TDs opposed to the measure.

 

 As a result of a declared purge by Taoiseach Enda Kenny of Fine Gael’s  rebels, Lucinda Creighton and four other FG backbenchers — Brian Walsh  (Galway West), Peter Mathews (Dublin South), Billy Timmins (Wicklow) and  Terence Flanagan (Dublin North-East) — will lose their nomination as  party candidates at the next election, which could spell the end of  their political careers.

 

 One Sinn Fein TD (Meath East TD Peader Toibin) also voted against, and  was immediately expelled from the party for six months for a “serious  breach” of party rules.

 

 Fianna Fail uniquely allowed its legislators to vote according to their  conscience.  Fourteen voted against the bill, while five supported it.

 

 Eleven independents also voted against for various reasons, including  five who did so because they believed the legislation did not go far  enough in providing for a woman’s right to choose.

 

 Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore and three other TDs were absent, while three TDs  abstained from the vote.

 

 There was a round of applause after the vote was passed, and  pro-abortion supporters outside Leinster House cheered at the result.

 

 Speaking to reporters on the plinth of Leinster House tonight, Ms  Creighton said she felt very sad as she had been a member of Fine Gael  since she was 18.

 

 “At the same time I am relieved because this is a huge issue that has  been weighing on everybody’s mind for months,” she said.

 

 The prominent Dublin South-East TD became the third Minister of State to  quit the current government. She said she had been left no option after  standing by Fine Gael’s pre-election commitment not to legislate for  abortion.

 

 “It’s no exaggeration to say that a lot of people have really struggled  on which way they would vote in this legislation and now obviously five  members of the Dail from my parliamentary party [will not support it],”

 she said.

 

 She said she had been asked to resign as a Minister by the party leader,  Taoiseach Enda Kenny. She said it was a “big shock” to find herself  outside the party.

 

 Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams welcomed this morning’s vote.

 

 “It has taken 21 years to secure the passing of this legislation,” he  said.

 

 “It is long overdue. Sinn Fein had concerns about aspects of this bill  but we considered it very carefully [in light of the legal obligations  on the state].

 

 “We also took the view that we have a duty and responsibility to  legislate for citizens – in this case pregnant women whose lives are at  risk – and to ensure that there is clarity for medical practitioners.”