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YESTERDAY’S PUBLICATION OF the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on the Eighth Amendment included a further five ‘ancillary’ recommendations.
Those suggestions were included in the report specifically to represent the concerns of the 99 members of the Assembly that “wider policy issues” concerning the Eighth be taken into consideration, not just legal changes.
The relevant concerns were expressed by 74 of the members present at the end of the Assembly’s meetings on Sunday 23 April via a ‘Member Reflective Exercise’ – similar to the ‘any further opinions’ section found at the end of many surveys.
The five further recommendations were each arrived at via consensus of the members who responded – and are a representation of the Assembly members’ own views, as opposed to the way in which they voted on the Assembly’s final ballots.
Two further recommendations (concerning the decriminalisation of abortion and the recognition of female reproductive rights) were not made as consensus was not deemed to have been reached.
All 74 of the responses are included in Appendix B of the report. The following are just some of them:
Recommendation One – Improvements should be made in sexual health and relationship education
“A comprehensive sexual education programme needs to be implemented in schools.” [Response 21]
When people can openly and freely discuss all of these difficult issues, with informed minds, this country will be better for it. Specially trained (and comprehensively) teachers from DoE/HSE should operate nationwide and visit secondary schools 2-3 times during the course of secondary education, at third level and operate info distribution for all. [Response 23]
“I would like to see investment in sex education, empowering our girls and boys on issues around consent, and protection.” [Response 31]
Recommendation Two – Improved access to reproductive healthcare should be available to all women – including termination of pregnancy if required
“In 2009/2010 the US state of Colorado introduced a free birth control programme. Over a five-year period this led to a 42% fall in abortions.” [Response 15]
Contraception should be free. [Response 22]
“New regulatory framework should be put in place to make sure women have equal and unimpeded access to the highest standard of reproductive health care, including abortion.” [Response 45]
To provide free after care for anyone who has had an abortion – to destigmatise it, remove the “fear”. [Response 66]
Recommendation Three – All women should have access to the same standard of obstetrical care
“I would like for some real reference to be made to the serious need for assistance to be given to the socially disadvantaged either due to poverty or because of being non citizens who have crisis pregnancies.” [Response 28]
That all women have access to the same standard of obstetrical care and to include early scanning and testing. [Response 50]
“State funded access should be available to gynaecological care for all pregnant women.” [Response 39]
Equal access to proper screening for all women regardless of economic or geographical status. [Response 33]
Recommendation Four – Improvements should be made to counselling and support facilities for pregnant women
“Whether a female has/hasn’t an abortion, this country should take the stance of supporting/aiding such a person regardless of their circumstances.” [Response 23]
Proper counselling services to be accessible to all women before/after decisions are made. [Response 33]
“Due to the stigma of termination in Ireland, free counselling should be provided before and especially after.” [Response 36]
Recommendation Five – Further consideration should be given as to who will fund and carry out terminations in Ireland
“Termination services should be publicly funded and located within (ease of access for women) in each county.” [Response 21]
I would like to recommend that they discuss the financial aspects of a termination. Who is going to pay? How much? Will it be covered on a medical card or will people be means tested etc. Will there be clinics in Ireland to terminate or will people still have to travel to England? [Response 11]
“I wish to have finance included in the recommendations. Who will fund the procedures if they are needed.” [Response 12]
“I would like to make suggestion of putting the proposal to the HSE/Government of providing all healthcare connected with the termination of pregnancy to be free of charge.” [Response 14]
Note: Consensus was not reached on the following responses
On the decriminalisation of abortion and the autonomy of women
“Decriminalise abortion in Ireland.” [Response 29]
Abortion should be decriminalised. [Response 45]
“I would like to see something put in place that specifically recognises each citizen’s right to reproductive autonomy. The unborn being considered a citizen is a very strange and unusual circumstance that is unique to Ireland as far as I am aware.” [Response 6]
I would like the Oireachtas to consider the language used and to recognise the necessity of including terminology that expressly details self autonomy of the female reproductive system as it will then demonstrate the respect it has for women in Irish society. [Response 17]
“Abortion medically up to 12 weeks should be available at a low cost to all women in Ireland.” [Response 24]
And others…
“I would also like it to be noted that many citizens, myself included, did not want to be in a position where they decided when a termination was justified for a woman and believe that this is a medical and not a political issue, but there was no opportunity to express this on a ballot.” [Response 1]
I feel that the general public don’t understand that repeal means leaving it to the government to do about legalising abortion. Amend seems to me that we, the public, have more control over what changes are made. [Response 47]
This has been a very difficult topic. We have tried to deal with it compassionately. There should be no victory rolls by pro-choice or doom and gloom by pro-life. [Response 66]
“My fear after the voting of this weekend is the complete lack of empathy for the unborn baby.” [Response 55]
“The Oireachtas Committee should read all documentation and watch all presentations/Q&As to ensure they are as informed as the members are. Test them! We don’t trust them.” [Response 20]
Given that we were given a deadline for our work they (the Oireachtas) must be urged to act in a timely fashion. [Response 9]
“National Maternity services should not be led by religious orders” [Response 13, and many others]
It’s extremely important that the Oireachtas move to call a referendum as soon as possible. [Response 24]
“It seems that there is now no provision for the protection of the unborn. The focus has shifted totally to termination of pregnancy and I find this extremely worrying and in conflict with the overall meaning of our constitution. We have also had problems during this last weekend with lobbyist huddles.” [Response 37]
The Oireachtas should move to liberalise abortion, and allow for the women of Ireland to feel genuinely cherished by their own nation. [Response 73]
And finally
“It has been mentally tiring. I will be glad to move onto the next topic.” [Response 58]
I recommend that silly questions should not be justified. [Response 5]
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FG promise alot and deliver a lot less!
@John Paul Long: Fianna Fail are the only party to vote for
@John Paul Long: these pluckers will sell there soul (if they still have one)for votes,,,
@John Paul Long: FG promised to abolish USC in 2016, it’s still here. They are promising childcare, but rejected this when SF put the bill before them very recently. They had their chance. Change the government.
@Fintan Pox: A bunch of incompetent liars who have wrecked this country numerous times as they line their pockets fintan
@Jb Walshe: we are not going to get SF led government
@Fintan Pox: we will have to wait you plucking dumbo
@james rowan: didn’t fianna fail sell a kidney? Oh sorry, they just robbed all the money collected for one of there TDs transplant operations a few years back. Good old fianna fail.
@F1rYnpWc: well done, excellent points
@Fintan Pox: keep dreaming on your all the same
@F1rYnpWc: They have found the magic money tree (that doesn’t exist) and there’s something for everyone in the audience.
@John Paul Long: Why is it that all these false promises are made before an election?
Dishonest shower of $cumbag$.
@Michael o connor: i know one major thing they robbed on me 7% of my pension back in 2008/9 pluckers the lot of them,,,
@Manni: For votes simple as that.
@Paul Linehan: Do ya mean the Magic Apple tree ? The one that FFG used for ‘a one for everybody in the audience- budget to buy your vote .. the same Magic Apple tree they’re basing all their false promises on in the run up to the election.. give over with this magic money tree malarkey, people going on about that embarrassing themselves at this stage.
@Brian: Hey Briany relax, the magic money tree is the mantra used by the FF & FG bots. I was just pointing out that if it doesn’t exist when other parties make proposals, how come one pops up in their garden on every election year.
@Paul Linehan: not how I read your comment.. but thats fair enough. Point taken .
The maternity hospitals will need more millions to fund the influx from Europe for this
@Ger Byrne: FG announced their immigration plan is to build more IPA centers and have asylum seekers partly contribute to their accommodation! That’s FG’s immigration plan! Talk about out of TOUCH!
@F1rYnpWc: there is no discernible difference in the immigration policy of all the main parties – all agree that 1) immigration is a good thing, 2) we must meet our international obligations with regard to asylum seekers, 3) there will be no cap on asylum seekers. There are nuanced differences, with FG talking of investing in the claim process, chartering deportation flights, building IPAS centres – this last one seems to have particularly grabbed your attention, as if SF would do anything different. SF policy seems to be the creation of a new agency, but nothing radically different. Each party are effectively saying that would implement the same policy, only more efficiently than their rival party
@Kevin Kerr: have FG’s approach to immigration hindered it or make it flourish? It’s time to change the government. SF have an in-depth immigration policy
@F1rYnpWc: but not saying where they will build them
@Ger Byrne: Well spotted Ger. Methinks it won’t be decent, honest Irish working parents that will be the main beneficiaries, but it will become another welfare scam.
“P-please vote for us. We’ll give you MONEY, just pleeeeeease vote for us, pretty please”.
@Adomas Mockus: your own money to boot
Empty promises as usual
@Jimbo: nobody will be able to beat SF’s offer of free burgers and fries in select areas. That is the freebie to beat all freebies
What good is €1000 a baby when our youth can’t afford their own home? Vote anybody but FFG. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. FFG have sold housing, an essential fabric of any society, to foreign funds and investment trusts looking to turn a profit on our people. They have architected a demographic timebomb which will lead to the collapse of the public pension due to youth emigration, and lack of having kids because housing is so unaffordable. Vote anybody but FFG, two cheeks of the same unwiped hole. Give them no preference and vote all the way down the list otherwise.
@Sean Stevenson: It’s actually pretty easy to understand, I believe:
Other parties were targeting the low income voters and even more,
the demographic that never worked or their goal is to be, at least officially, a single mum and depending on SW.
So, this demographic can still pop babies, live their SW depending lives, but will get 1 grand extra.
I don’t think it will do much for working people, but I might be wrong.
@Sean Stevenson: it wont go on the baby, it will be a nice holiday for the parents
FG’s immigration plan has committed to building more designated IPA centers, and to have asylum seeks contribute financially if they can. THAT is his plan! SF will setup an immigration management agency, I will vote for a SF/Ind led govt. FG has failed every sector and sold off homeownership so that our houses are becoming increase fund-owned.
@F1rYnpWc: you are obsessed with FG lol
I have Trollfiles muted so it only shows a blank space where a caught troll commented. Don’t feed the troll folks :)
@F1rYnpWc: You post on every single article relating to Fine Gael. Not very surprising. Sinn Fein are the other “alternative” parties are very popular among the unemployed.
Is it me, or does this election and the buckets of “promises” feel like offers from Mr.Price/Dealz/Eurogiant?
@wwvCLOuF: not at all alike. The companies you listed always deliver on their price promises as they are legally mandated to do so.
Hopefully home owners will help out their fellow citizens and not vote for FF FG
@Alex Kane: they will help our country by solely voting for FG and FF.
You are in power now, why hasn’t it been done already.
Don’t believe a word of it. Spoofers the whole lot of them
Does anybody believe Any of these promises from Any party, or question the cost of Any of these manifestoes
@RIP: not only that… even if they tried, they couldn’t deliver. Clare Daly won’t make bs promises like these because she’s got integrity & is discerning of her voters.
@wwvCLOuF: not that I’m pushing Clare. Just the whole thing seems like a circus at this point.
@wwvCLOuF: lol. How are you not pushing her.
All the tax reductions in the last few years, plus the [air quotes] promised tax cuts will mean that sooner or later taxes will have to be raised again. I’m due to retire in 8 years. My guess is that taxes will be rising again by that time (to plug all the financial gaps left by political parties trying to buy their way into government and to stay there at the next elections).
BEWARE OF POLITICIANS BEARING FALSE PROMISES.
@Mick Hanna: Beware the naked man who offers you his shirt
Oh they promise now, why not last year. Anything to get elected
Why didn’t they do it all along ??? I want them out and so does most of the country
@M G: But 82% don’t want SF.
Whaf is FG policy on immigration?
@r k: what ever your having yourself.
@rk: it doesn’t let me post links but Google FG will introduce a contribution model for asylum seekers. Takes you to a FG’s website that states FG “values migration. We see the benefit of it every single day”.
Oh my days extortion from the top, this government will do anything.
Ya ya sure we just had a budget could of done all that then will ya go away
This election is turning into a farce. Can’t take any of the large parties seriously when they’re making promises they can’t keep. FG are really scraping the bottom of the barrel at this point.
As long as they keep interfering with the housing market with these grants costs will continue to rise!
We would have extra money in our pocket if these recycled politicians keep their promises. But given their untrustworthiness in the last government I will never believe a single word from them.
Vote monk
@Fintan Pox: Breaking the law has never been a barrier to people getting elected in this country. I’m sure even a career serious criminal like The Monk will get a significant vote (even if he doesn’t get elected). Which just confirms that the Irish public are part of the problem, not the helpless victims of the nature of this society.
1000 Euros for every baby… baby.
Get these energy companies to lower their standing charges and will ya lower the PSO levy too , energy credits do feck all long term
I’m just waiting for them to promise a chicken in every pot.
At least rthis election should see the back of deep pockets Martin…
And a partridge in a pear tree……..
How to buy an election.
We can comment on Harris and his false promises but can’t comment on Gerry Hutch and his vision for the inner city? Is this a democratic or media controlled election?
The sea has parted everything is up for grabs.
Looking forward to Free Everything, all the parties promises, meaning we won’t have to pay for anything. Our Political Class across the board would surely never mislead us or lie to us & have the honesty & integrity to honor all these promises.
Has anybody ever compiled a list of previous election promises that weren’t followed through?
Amazing that people keep voting in these frauds. The Zionists of Ireland.
All talk nothing changed can’t be trusted FF OR FG or none of them l ask the question what party is going to put more money into the working man wallet
@Alan Moloney: FG and FF have, and will continue to do so by leading the next Govt.
@Johnny Wilson: will you keep dreaming on and wake up l’m a working guy and give me nothing
More fake promises from Simple Simon and his shower of big-spending cronies in Fine Gael. Again, it’s the exact same as them coming out with their big proposals to tackle crime. You are in power with a majority right now, why did you wait nearly 15 years to come out with these proposals? Why have you done literally nothing productive or beneficial so far in government and that you only wait for an election to give a fake outline of what you are pretending that you’re going to do?
At lease this election should see the end of deep pockets Martin, his ray ells friend….,
I’ll promise the same if you vote for me. Also I’d have no tax on the OT you do.
They should all be wearing Santa hats with all this promise of gifting going forward. At least Santa is real and keeps his promises unlike these charlatans.
They had 4 Years. Tell me why they couldn’t do it then and no doubt excuses will be plenty when they won’t be able to do so later. Time for Energy Capping for All Energy Companies. Competition ISN’T Working.
Like all other times. Promise everything, do and deliver nothing. LIARS all.
Comments closed on McGahon, he’s an animal and only Fine Gael would acceot his actions, not the first time either, chocolate bars and all that.
@Brian D’Arcy: who was found innocent in a criminal court. As for animals, just look to Provo/SF.
1000 a baby when young couples can’t afford their own home. Ff and fg have made Ireland it very hard to live in with cost living crisis and if have a family heaven forbid need a doctor unrealistic get appointment for over a week . Ffg have had so much time in government and voting them back in will be wrong.
Ok a 1000 a baby when young couples can’t afford their own home. Ff and fg have made Ireland the very hard to live in with cost living crisis and if have a family heaven forbid need a doctor unrealistic get appointment for over a week . Ffg have had so much time in government and voting them back in will be wrong.
A thousand euro for every baby born on Ireland is he for real
To quote Grampa Simpson – GIMME FREE STUFF. I WANT FREE STUFF !!!
The bruv tells me that P.B.F. promised him free transport, medical care, childcare & education.
That seems to be the most free stuff, so it’s P.B.F. for me – followed I’d imagine about 12 months later by the I.M.F.
I’m trying very hard not to see this election as a farce….but it sure ain’t easy
You can’t do profligate spending and decrease taxes at the same time, the maths leads to ruin!
Minister for Justice supports a hairy boy in Louth constituency
Liars that’s how desperate they are to cling onto power his the shortest t/shirt in the party never elected by the people he’d do better by changing that and by promising to do so people might believe him then
@liam ward: he was elected Taoiseach by the Dail, same as every other Taoiseach.
@Johnny Wilson: He scraped in by the skin of his teeth in the previous election. He doesn’t represent me.
I’m sorry to say this but they’re beginning to sound like the Science Fiction party. They really shouldn’t do that, instead just get on with things.
They are all the same, they would do a deal with the devil to stay in power….
Does this gob shite Harris even realise that under EU law you can only have 2 vat rates?. If he cuts 13.5% to 11% he will have to put the 23% to 25% yo make up the shortfall.Maybe he will up paye. The giìmp doesn’t know what he is saying but willing to waste our tax monies looking after his hotelier and pub friends.
What good is 1000 quid when you spend that on crèche costs average 700+ per month? Unless there are policies put in place to make it easier for both parents to work and have child care then that 1000 quid is as useless as that bike shed we have at Leinster house.
Blah blah blah, EU/ WEF out, anyone else IN
Sounds like To Putin trying to get a breeding program going
Let’s beat England to give us a boost and the hope of good leadership for the island of Ireland.
@Phillip Smyth: ya right
@Phillip Smyth: optimistic.
@Phillip Smyth: 5 0
FG are pretty impressive, convinced the nation it was a giveaway budget last October (it was the same as previous budgets, zero for the taxpayer), and have returned to power election after election while never delivering promises.
Vast majority of people must be crazy, they expect something different but always vote the same. Nothing will change if you don’t change your vote.
We are overpopulated. Why would you pay people 1000 euro to have babies. It’s utterly ridiculous. Why don’t you look after mental health reform like you’ve been promising for years or fund the HSE properly so people can get the treatment they need without waiting years for it. Fine Gael are a disgrace
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