Taoiseach’s offer of free vote on abortion ‘ironic’ – Lucinda Creighton

Lucinda Creighton has described as “ironic” the promise made by Taoiseach Enda Kenny to allow a free vote for members of his Fine Gael party on the abortion issue.

According to The Irish Catholic newspaper, Deputy Creighton, who was expelled from Fine Gael in 2013 for defying the party whip by voting against the ‘Protection of Life during Pregnancy Act’ on pro-life grounds, accused the Taoiseach of expediency in considering a free vote amid calls for a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution which protects the right to life of the unborn.

“[Mr Kenny] will do what is expedient for his own ends,” she said. “Compromising on abortion being the best example.”

Last month, the Taoiseach told members of his party that in the event of a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment, TDs and senators would be allowed to vote according to conscience, effectively offering pro-life members a measure of protection that was denied to Deputy Creighton and six other members of the party in 2013. The six others expelled then were Billy Timmins, Peter Matthews, Terence Flanagan,  Denis Naughten, and Senators Paul Bradford and Fidelma Healy- Eames. Mr Kenny said subsequently that Fine Gael’s election manifesto will make no mention of abortion, but will offer a pledge to refer the matter of the EighthAmendment to a ‘Citizens’ Convention’, a move criticised by former Fine Gael leader, John Bruton, who insisted such an assembly should be no substitute for the Oireachtas in making a decision on such a controversial topic.

Deputy Creighton has confirmed that she will personally campaign against any move to repeal the current constitutional protection for the unborn in Ireland.
The Iona Institute
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