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Oireachtas TV

Taoiseach has 'no intention of playing party politics' over abortion issue

Enda Kenny responds to calls for a Constitutional referendum on abortion during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil today.

ENDA KENNY DISMISSED calls for a constitutional referendum on abortion in the Dáil this afternoon.

Answering a question posed by Deputy John Halligan, the Taoiseach stated the heads of the bill approved by government last week will not impact the Constitution.

“There is no change nor will there be any change,” he said.

“This [draft law] does not involve anything extraneous like what you mentioned…fatal foetal abnormality, rape or incest.”

Halligan had proposed a referendum to allow the electorate decide if a woman should be allowed a legal abortion in Ireland in the case of rape or incest or if she is carry a child with a fatal diagnosis.

Kenny said he had “no intention of playing party politics with a matter as sensitive as this”.

“We are confined here in what we are doing by the Constitution and, within the Constitution what the law as determined by the Supreme Court is. So it is within these confines that the heads have been approved by government and will follow through the process.”

He noted that a right to travel has been specifically given to women.

The government is focussed on dealing with what is within the Constitution and within current law, he added.

Kenny said he has spoken to women who have undergone termination procedures, as well as those who have been raped. He told Halligan that the issues he raised were “very important”, adding that people make these choices under circumstances of great duress.

Speaking in the chamber, Halligan had said that the pro-life movement “centres on the right to life of the foetus” but argued that a woman also has the right not to be raped.

“If her right is violated, I believe she has the right to end a pregnancy at her discretion,” he said. “I defy any TD to look a pregnant rape victim in the eye and tell her – or tell a woman carrying a baby that is certain to die at birth – that we are more entitled than she is to be in control of her body. We cannot continue to brush these cases under the carpet and pretend they are not happening.”

Medical Terminations: ‘Ours is a very specific, heartbreaking and clear-cut case’

‘Misleading’ to say abortion does or does not help suicidal women

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76 Comments
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    Mute rodrigo detriano
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    Sep 21st 2013, 8:26 AM

    You’re quickly running out of ideas Aaron. Everything you’re saying is true, but it’s nothing new. We all know how useless this Government is. In fact most of us knew this the day they were elected, and the rest of us figured it out a couple of weeks after that!!

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    Mute O'Reilly
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    Sep 21st 2013, 8:10 AM

    Seriously, can any fool go on a populist rant and get published?

    131
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    Mute Niall Mullins
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    Sep 21st 2013, 8:21 AM

    Are you happy in your blue shirt O Reilly? Can’t knock the man for speaking the truth.

    123
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    Mute Dublinguy2013
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    Sep 21st 2013, 8:24 AM

    It’s a childish article full of name calling.

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    Mute AggressiveSecularist
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    Sep 21st 2013, 8:28 AM

    I agree. What a stupid and pointless article.

    86
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    Mute O'Reilly
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    Sep 21st 2013, 8:30 AM

    It’s not insightful or objective. It’s a political activist with a vested interest taking a pot shot. It’s a comment, not a column. And Niall, you dont need a blue shirt or any other hue to recognise a populist rant when you read it…

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    Mute Vocal Outrage
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    Sep 21st 2013, 8:38 AM

    A good few of the non- blue shirts are shy about the oul populist rant either, everyone with a vested interest playing the media and the plight of the average Joe on the street completely ignored, all as bad as each other

    29
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    Mute Diarmuid MacSuibhne
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    Sep 22nd 2013, 11:24 AM

    Fine Gael don’t agree that populist or popular opinion is valid in decision making. Not surprising. But don’t expect non-facists to go along with being told what to do with Caesar if they don’t like it.

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    Mute Peter Richardson
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    Sep 21st 2013, 8:44 AM

    Politicians lie with words; bankers lie with figures. They are suitable bedfellows.

    104
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    Mute John Johnson
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    Sep 21st 2013, 9:00 AM

    Articles like this and the poll Do you feel better now that we’re out of recession make it hard to take the Journal as a serious news site, “Journalists” that seem much more interested in putting their own spin on things rather than reporting news or doing any serious investigative journalism.

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    Mute Matthew Donoghue
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    Sep 21st 2013, 11:46 AM

    At least its not the governments spin.

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    Mute Ryan Ash
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    Sep 21st 2013, 5:17 PM

    The biggest spinners aren’t the politicians or their PR people. It’s the journalists who, as intermediary between politicians and the citizens, have the greatest power. Think of all the deliberately written headlines, aimed at provoking an angry reaction, or the quotes which leave out a line or two here and there to provoke a reaction.

    A constant anti-politics is bad for the country as it stops people who could do good from getting involved.

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    Mute Powerabbey
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    Sep 21st 2013, 8:21 AM

    This guy got out at the wrong side of the bed! What a clown!

    72
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    Mute Aisling Brady
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    Sep 21st 2013, 3:25 PM

    Truth hurts!

    5
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    Mute Simon Burke
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    Sep 21st 2013, 8:59 AM

    I normally like Aaron’s articles but this is just a rant. I will say one thing for politicians (across all parties and independents), at least they take their opinions to voters and try to get elected. Calling them all cowards while sitting on the ditch is a bit weak.

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    Mute Chopstix
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    Sep 21st 2013, 8:28 AM

    @Aaron
    Great article … Keep them coming.

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    Mute Mark O'Leary
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    Sep 21st 2013, 8:33 AM

    Enjoyed this article

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    Mute Alison Finn
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    Sep 21st 2013, 9:18 AM

    The Government that are there were elected by the people. So if the people don’t like them whoever voted for them only has themselves to blame. When people try to stand up and protest or fight against what is going on in this country we all just turn on each other. People need to stand together and say we are not happy with it and will not put up with it anymore. Moaning and doing nothing about it has not worked in the past so why keep doing it?

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    Mute james r
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    Sep 21st 2013, 10:38 AM

    Alison ! They were elected on there promises to the people . So why would you blame the people . I for one was fooled when enda said not one red cent more would be giving to bondholders

    60
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    Mute Morticia
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    Sep 21st 2013, 10:51 AM

    We have a single party system here so why bother voting at all ? We will be run by the Teachers and Touchers Party no matter what box you tick.

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    Mute Matthew Donoghue
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    Sep 21st 2013, 11:44 AM

    Try voting for DDI they look like they could be a good party.

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    Mute Anthony Carroll
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    Sep 21st 2013, 3:40 PM

    The problem with the voting in argument is simple. We have the choice between bastard no. 1
    Or bastard no. 2

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    Mute Denito
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    Sep 21st 2013, 8:26 AM

    Hurl on the ditch much?

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    Mute John Sherwin
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    Sep 21st 2013, 9:24 AM

    Excellent article. Now how about publishing articles opposing the Seanad abolition and challenging Herr Kenny to come out debate without a back up mob on RTE or TV3. I await a Vincent Browne interview with the Taoiseach

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    Mute Aisling Brady
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    Sep 21st 2013, 3:27 PM

    You shall wait a long time.

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    Mute Donal Hanley
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    Sep 22nd 2013, 9:58 AM

    Kenny on the Vincent Browne show will never happen! Never. Browne is quite mad. His empty chair was stupid in the extreme. His treatment of his panel is frequently rude, aggressive and bullying. He seems to think he is Ireland’s answer to Bill O Reilly. He is deluded. Bill O Reilly is a real talent even if nut fair and balanced.

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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Sep 21st 2013, 9:01 AM

    Very good article Arron and the government and their loyal spinners are like dieing wasps (angry and will have a go at anybody that disrespects their glorious leaders).
    But the budget and the local elections are looming along with whatever blunders have yet to surface.
    The electorate will be telling this government in no small way what they think of them.

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    Mute Thomas Cooke
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    Sep 21st 2013, 9:38 AM

    Dear Aaron, sorry to read that the ba#£¥+ds have apparently got to you too. I know it’s very difficult not to slip in to a state of fulminating rage and cynicism. In fact it is surprising that we don’t all fall into that state given the way our country has been governed. It is particularly difficult to see the guilty unpunished and the innocent condemned to the consequences.

    It might be easier to GTFOH and emigrate like thousands who have given up hope of our country ever returning to a decent level of economic activity, but like you I’m too stubborn (or even stupid) to take that route.

    Don’t despair too much at the gullibility of us citizens and our capacity to believe the spin and trash that the media channel into our homes. It is an unequal battle of money and cynical psychology vs ordinary hard working people.

    Take some comfort that you have thousands of fellow travellers who are individually striving to rebuild this country in spite of the odds and obstacles.

    Regards

    T

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    Mute Sean Costello
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    Sep 21st 2013, 11:11 AM

    Spot on. Very good article. The attacking blue shirts and red nose posters are to be pitied. Defending the indefensible makes you equally as bad. This country has been ruined. Fg/lab are not helping things. In fact they’re making it worse. No amount of massaging of figures can take away from that but it will help the idiots who vote for these parties to justify their stance.

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    Mute Derek Durkin
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    Sep 21st 2013, 10:45 AM

    Politicians are there just to give the illusion that you have choice and democracy. You don’t, you have owners and they are the the people in the background that own everything and control the system. Please lets stop the charade.

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    Mute Morticia
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    Sep 21st 2013, 10:59 AM

    Politicians are out to screw us, only the method changes.

    11
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    Mute Morticia
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    Sep 21st 2013, 10:42 AM

    The events of the next few years in this country depend on the outcome of the German election and NOT the antics of the school teachers hissing at each other in the Dail.

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    Mute Bramley Hawthorne
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    Sep 21st 2013, 9:17 AM

    Not one of your best Aaron but keep them coming.
    And I just looked out the window and the hills ARE blue.

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    Mute Brian O'Sullivan
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    Sep 21st 2013, 8:29 AM

    What’s the obscure law that requires you to say that Christmas is less than 100 days away?

    5
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    Mute Vocal Outrage
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    Sep 21st 2013, 8:39 AM

    Irony and sarcasm

    22
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    Mute John
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    Sep 21st 2013, 6:22 PM

    Aaron, very good post and very accurate. Keep it going.

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    Mute Maurice Dodd
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    Sep 21st 2013, 10:57 PM

    Pr#$/s come back from their summer alcoholidays in the autumn???

    2
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