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FIANNA FÁIL LEADER Micheál Martin has said the decision-making process of backing a Yes vote in the referendum has been “long and challenging”.
Addressing a Lawyers for Yes event in Dublin this evening, he also said he believes the referendum will pass in May.
“For a lot of people, including me, coming to a conclusion has been a long and challenging process,” he said.
Martin said each person “has a personal responsibility as a citizen to decide” where they stand on the issue.
“This doesn’t have to be without reservations, but it does have to involve a frank and honest look at the reality of Ireland today and in the future.
“A No vote on the 25th will mean that nothing will change. There will continue to be a long stream of cases through our courts taken by women facing extreme situations and identified only by a letter of the alphabet.
“There will continue to be thousands of Irish abortions every year with no engagement with medical professionals. There will continue to be a rising number of unsupervised and unregulated abortions taking place here with the use of abortion pills,” said Martin.
‘A cold place for women’
He said a No vote will mean that Ireland will continue to be a “cold place for women in the most terrible circumstances”, while a Yes vote will enable a system where the first consultation a woman facing a crisis has is with a medical professional who can support her and outline different choices.
“It will enable a system which is regulated, safe and humane. It will bring to an end the failures of the Eighth Amendment,” he said.
As a citizen I have made my decision. I will be voting Yes and I will continue to talk about the need for the change which can only be secured by voting Yes.
The party leader has faced some backlash within his own party for taking such a view on the referendum, particularly due to party members voting to protect the rights of the unborn at the Ard Fheis last year.
Last week, more than half of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party posed for a photograph to promote a No vote in the forthcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment.
Criticism was levelled at Martin for not being present at a photo-shoot for party members who are for a Yes vote (though TDs have since clarified that the photo was ad hoc, and the absence of the leader had no meaning).
This evening, it was photo-shoot part deux:
With just two weeks out from polling day, Martin called for a civil debate of the issues.
Personal experiences
“Since I made my personal statement in the Dáil I have visited many parts of the country and have talked to hundreds of people about the referendum. For those who have disagreed with me I have met a very open and respectful tone,” he said.
However the most common reaction I have had is from women of all ages telling me of their own experiences and how important it is for them that Irish society hears their voice.
The public is becoming very well-informed on the issues, said Martin, though he said it can be difficult.
Posters and election material
“It can be very difficult to see through a passionate debate – particularly when faceless groups are appearing and spreading dishonest and offensive material.
“However I believe that people are intelligent enough to see through this – and I would encourage everyone to focus on the materials provided by reputable and officially registered groups as well as the Referendum Commission,” said Martin.
Yesterday, Health Minister Simon Harris condemned, what he called “horrific” posters, which were hung outside his constituency office in Bray.
The Fianna Fáil leader said that as the law stands a woman will be forced to carry a pregnancy to term irrespective of the impact on her health, or if she was raped, or if she has received a diagnosis of a fatal foetal abnormality.
“It is essential people understand that there is no possible way for this to change if the amendment remains,” said Martin, who said the public must understand that there is no way difficult cases, that often end up before the courts, can be dealt with without removing the Eighth Amendment.
Addressing the issue of abortion limits, Martin said:
It has also been suggested that the limits and regulation proposed in the legislation can’t be trusted and that effectively there will be no limits. This is entirely wrong.
We should all remember that five years ago many people claimed that abortion on demand was being introduced because limits in that legislation wouldn’t be respected. Those claims turned out to be false.
Martin said he “deeply” understands that many people are “uneasy” about the choice they have to make on 25 May. The party leader urged the public to back the Yes vote.
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Quick reminder that the government could legalise cannabis tomorrow, if they wanted to. But they don’t, for some reason.
@FlipBip: what is the Maroccan government doing ? Follow the money
@FlipBip: the smell of it is reason enough to ban it
@Basildon Joe: Lmao, boomers like you must be terrified from an article like this :)
@Basildon Joe: Erm would one of the main reasons to legalise it not be to ensure the public have safe and legal choices?! Your comment makes literally no sense! I’m assuming you read and comment on the Daily Mail a lot?! Proper Peter Hitchens goo brain conservatism as usual!
It’s legal in some G7 countries and governments collect huge amounts of tax from it and there seems to be no more affect from using it than having a few pints so why not legalize it in Ireland?
@Ned: yes but how ?
@Ned: because as with all commodities that are taxed black markets follow – cigs, car fuels, prescription drugs, alcohol. These are far more dangerous.
@Ned: We’re an impossible people Ned. Never happen
@Thesaltyurchin: you are right impossible people is an Irish problem
@Nerb: The black market already exists!
Legalise and tax
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: easier said than done.
@offside again: 177 people caught drug driving last week alone putting the lives of other drivers in danger.Think about that for minute.
@Willie Marty: Was anyone caught drunk driving? Weak argument.
@Diarmuid Hunt: the article is about drugs.Read it.
@Willie Marty: I did. However your comment was about drug driving. People use a legal inhibiting substance and drive and risk other people’s lives. Is people acting irresponsibly a valid reason to ban alcohol?
@Diarmuid Hunt: were you ever advised “if you drink dont drive”
@Willie Marty: Yes I was numerous times by many adverts from the RSA as were all the people who chose to drink and drive… it obviously doesn’t stop it happening. Are you saying people that drug drive don’t understand the implications of driving under the influence and that a simple PSA would sort it?
@Willie Marty: Cant lump Cannabis in with all drugs. Still waiting for that first challenge on the courts tho, go to Amsterdam for a weekend the following week your arrested for drug driving in Ireland… gonna be an interesting case.
@Diarmuid Hunt: no drugs no alcohol-less misery less crime and more productive lives for all.
@Willie Marty: False narrative, money creates crime.
@Thesaltyurchin: it sure does and theres money in drugs.
@Willie Marty: More productive or more profitable?
@Diarmuid Hunt: a bit of both.
@Willie Marty: yeah and all the people who might’ve had a blunt a week ago and still fail it. Wake up there’s people with cancer who can’t access is because of these stupid laws.
@Willie Marty: Prohibition worked great in the USA! It caused no crime at all……
There is a huge industry around the so called treatment for cannabis abuse , and do called experts acting like there they are speaking from position of proven facts ,When the truth is there is only limited real facts available as off now ,And you look a bit closer you will see ,the do called experts on cannabis abuse are usually making a fortune from so called treatment programs
@Robert Halvey: yep all a big scam. Really wish the Irish people would do their own research on cannabis. So many smart people using it for various illnesses.
@LegalisationSavesLives: i use it to get stoned. Sometimes i use alchohol to get drunk.
i use paracetamol for pain. Tea to get me going, nicotine for i dont know what.
i go to the doctor if i feel i should.
@offside again: Are you a functioning human now though??
@offside again: Tea to get you going? Fluck me, you’re a special case for sure. Happy New Year, tho ..
@Donna Fallon: yes, I have a job. I am a functionning member of society.
@offside again: sounds like you need a lobotomy
@reg morrisey: Sounds like everyone else on this comment has already had one tbf!. Talk about reactionary, you folks are really finding food on those rocks at the bottom! :)
Torn on this one… the weed that’s being distributed in recent years is seriously strong (and or dipped in other substances) compared to the stuff circulating back in my day. I know too many young people who have experienced severe irreversible drug- induced psychosis from it’s usage. If it was legalised and regulated, it might clean up the market??
@Donna Fallon: don’t know a single person who had a bad reaction to weed ,
Where are all these people who suffer from REEFER MADNESS
@Donna Fallon: sure you do Donna. Funny enough I’ve never know anyone over all the years I was involved in the music/clubbing scene who had a psychosis episode from weed intake,the ones I did know that had issues were with alcohol and cocaine
@sean weir: Go to the psychosis unit in St. John of God Stillorgan Dublin
@HisMastersAlibi: Go to the psychosis unit in St. John of God Stillorgan Dublin. Yup admittedly, my episodes were from uppers like coke, alcohol and ecstasy. Do not try to downplay the affects of weed, hash, resin, oil etc. Honestly any stoner I was in school with is now either in a home or still living with their parents. No motivation.
@sean weir: i do and it was back in the day. Alchohol can also have an immediate and negative effect on some people.
But that’s not the point.
Tread carefully
@offside again: You’re offside again.
@Donna Fallon: Legalisation that allowed people to grow a few plants and organised regulated dispensaries to sell to adult consumers as in other jurisdictions, would greatly reduce the risk of young people buying cannabis laced with other drugs, etc, to either increase potency or just to add weight.
It wouldn’t end the business of drug dealers, but it would give people better options and likely clean up the entire market, especially if testing of cannabis products was easily available to consumers, then any contamination of the pure product would be made evident, making it less appealing and harder to sell, which would therefore force even the non-regulated market to clean up it’s act.
@Dvsespaña: wow man
@Donna Fallon: utter nonsense
@Donna Fallon: I feel you nothing about Cannabis Donna, but it seems you know everything. I’m conflicted.
@Basildon Joe: For the sake of any unsuspecting reader; If a person experiences Psychosis OR an extremely rare case of Schizophrenia it is 100% because they are predisposed to it!… know yourself, don’t wait to find out!
@Thesaltyurchin: Lol I wish I knew everything!! No on a serious note, I have first hand experience of the negative effects of THC. When I was young, I used to travel almost monthly to Amsterdam- wasn’t my drug of choice personally. However, I’ve family members and close friends whose lives have literally been arrested due to abuse of that substance- I’m not talking about those who have the occasional spliff.
@Shimo F: Prove me wrong!!
@Donna Fallon: eh no. You don’t.
@Donna Fallon: Appreciate that’s your version of reality Donna, but that’s a tiny, tiny percentage of people who are mostly fine. My lived experience is one where everyone who enjoys Cannabis is completely normal, with families and very active lives, zero mental health knock on (if anything in the opposite direction!). The only negative is organised crime but with more people growing at home this could be wiped out (never entirely, but to the point where it makes little revenue), leaving facilities and law enforcement free to actually save lives. Genuinely believe society is worse off on the outside of issues like this, in Ireland tho we do like people to be ‘worse off’ tho
@sean weir: You’ve obviously never seen the teenagers with irreversible psychological problems due to early cannabis use. I see these kids every day, crippled with anxiety and depression that they’ll have to live with for the rest of their lives. Every one of them says the same thing, that cannabis is harmless. Multiple independent studies show the harm that this drug does to young brains. Just because you don’t know anyone affected doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.
@stephen deegan: That’s an excellent reason to legalise and regulate.
@Donna Fallon: That is exactly what it does. Controls the quality of the product and makes it safer for everyone.
@HisMastersAlibi: The new hybrid stuff is shockingly strong. It is not like the mellow pout stuff of the past. Very speedy!
@Basildon Joe: I have never in nearly 50 years of knowing about it. Seen anybody use cannabis and get violent. Other drugs yes they do but a dope head is too laid back to get angry!
Toby and Sam are two beautiful Springer Spaniels, lovely temperament, clever and great with kids!
The article reads like a 12 year old has written it .
A “dab rig” really????
@sean weir: Google “dab rig” .
We are not accustomed to this in Ireland, cos the product is extremely unusual here. I believe it’s probably similar to an electric vaporiser, but which will contain the melted substance, which becomes liquid when heated.
I think there are many such products available to buy online.
@sean weir: It’s hilarious eh? Design to terrify boomers and the good sky fearing Irish, lol. This is all old old, largely inconsequential news. Even the commenter above is mystified by “dab rig”
The country is riddled with Drugs & is the gateway to Europe from Drug Lords. Drug gangs in control of many communities now & communities suffering from Crimes connected to Drugs, all thanks to our ineffective Minister for Justice, Helen Mc Entee, who has overseen the collapse of Law & Order, a failed Justice system, dysfunctional Garda Siochana & overcrowded Prisons, too busy bringing in the harshest Hate Crime legislation in Europe, which became law last night. Govt will now use these Hate Laws to silence all free speech & criticism of their open door Immigration policies. We had a senior Garda figure state inaccuracies on National Television this week around vetting of Immigrants. Eurodac data base does not cover Criminality in Africa or the Middle East !
Them dogs look like they’re on butane honey oil.
@Bills n Stuff: well they’d have to be. That’s how they are trained.
I am sure it’s great for your lungs
Zero tolerance
@James Leahy: ooof we’d love a bit of zero tolerance eh? Walking into peoples living rooms and forcing them to live like us… cannot wait
@Thesaltyurchin: who mentioned walking into people’s living rooms.Zero tolerance on our roads ie drug and drink driving.
@James Leahy: We already prosecute drivers who are completely sober for having trace amounts of non psychoactive THC metabolites in their system. How zero tolerance would you like it to get ?
Jeepers! look at us gather ‘the news’, with no shoes, in the pouring rain. How do we even manage, lol.
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