The Pro-Life Campaign (PLC) has welcomed the defeat of a motion before Limerick County Council calling for the repeal of the 8th Amendment to the Constitution, which protects the life of the unborn. It was defeated by a two-to-one margin.
The motion was tabled by Cllr Cian Prendiville, an Anti-Austerity Alliance member. He urged councillors to back the repeal of the amendment on the grounds that it poses very real difficulties for women.
However, voices of opposition were raised, among them Independent Cllr Emmett O’Brien who insisted that, despite Cllr Prendiville’s arguments, the 8thAmendment “offers the best protection for both” mother and the unborn child. Also opposing the motion and arguments based on a woman’s right to choose, Cllr Eddie Ryan of Fianna Fáil asked “what choice has the unborn child?”
The subsequent vote saw the motion defeated by 23 to 12.
Responding to the outcome, the PLC’s Sinéad Slattery said the vote “highlights that when the positive case for the 8th Amendment is put forward it resonates with people and they start to question the biased attacks against it in the media”.
Pointing out that councillors supporting the motion were “quick to accuse the 8th Amendment of being responsible for every difficult situation that arises relating to abortion”, Ms Slattery added: “But they refuse to acknowledge the positive part the Amendment has played in protecting the lives and health of women and babies.
“When some fairness is introduced into the debate, people quickly begin to see that there is another side to the story and that the 8th Amendment far from being some horrible imposition is actually something that is truly life-affirming and has saved countless lives since its insertion into the Constitution.”
According to The Limerick Leader newspaper, the council’s public gallery was packed for the debate and vote on the 8th Amendment, while councillors stated that they had received more calls and emails on the issue than for any other.
