Sinn Féin has said it did not take a formal role in the March for Choice in Dublin at the weekend because the views of the organisers on abortion go well beyond those of the party. While several of its elected representatives attended the march, the party had no official participation and did not use its banners. Its most prominent members, such as party leader Mary Lou McDonald, were absent and this fact was noted, and criticised, by speakers at the rally.
The Abortion Rights Campaign, which organised the march, says there needs to be a full repeal of the Eighth Amendment in the State and access to free, safe and legal abortion “for all who need or want it”. Sinn Féin’s position however, is that repeal of the Eighth Amendment should be followed by legislation to allow for abortion only in cases of rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormality.
Labour, Solidarity-People Before Profit, and the Social Democrats did have official banners at the march and one twitter user noted the prominence of communist flags and banners. One of the only Government Front bench members attending the march was the Minister for Children, Katherine Zappone, and she posted a photo of herself at the March which featured a communist banner in close proximity to her.
