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THE COALITION TO Repeal the Eighth Amendment has said that it is considering making a formal complaint over a set of website domain names featuring variants of the words “repeal” and “eighth” and which redirect to a pro-life site.
Three domains, http://repeal8.ie, http://repeal8th.ie, and http://repealeighth.ie actually send you to http://thisismylife.ie, which offers information from a pro-life perspective.
Ailbhe Smyth, convenor of the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment told TheJournal.ie that the registration of “disingenuous domain names in an attempt to mislead public opinion” was an example of “negative tactics”.
Cora Sherlock, from the Pro Life Campaign, however, said that she finds it a “little bizarre how some people are spending time challenging this and even lodging complaints about it”,
In a response to a query from TheJournal.ie, Ireland’s Domain Registry (IEDR) said it is “satisfied that the registration of the domains is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the .ie registration and naming policy”.
It also said that it had received a number of “queries” about the domain names, which is reflected by social media posts by a number of people who said they’d complained to the IEDR about the issue.
Confusion
Those three domain names that redirect to the pro-life site bear a similarity to the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment’s official website which is https://www.repealeight.ie/.
The most similar ones are repealeight.ie (the pro-choice one) and repealeighth.ie (which redirects to the pro-life site).
When you look up the registering of the names, it shows that the one from the coalition itself was registered by Ailbhe Smyth, while the ones that redirect to the pro-life side were registered under the name Katie Murray.
Sherlock said: “The domain names in question are registered by people closely involved with the pro-life movement. As is evident, they are intended as a source of information about what repeal of the Eighth Amendment would mean.
No-one has the monopoly on the word “repeal” and how it can be used. I noticed that the complaint that was made to the IEDR was rejected.
Sherlock also pointed to the website abortion.ie which redirects to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, and questioned whether the ”sole motivation” of the controversy over the Eighth domains was “to misrepresent the intention of some pro-life individuals”.
Smyth, however, said: “It is disheartening to see groups attempting to mislead and manipulate public opinion.”
She added that registering the domains in this manner was “disrespectful to the general public and to the huge amount of work done by the Citizens’ Assembly and the Joint Oireachtas Committee”.
Compliance
The IEDR did say that these domains were in compliance with its registration and naming policy.
Its policy, however, does include the following line:
Where the proposed name is in the opinion of the naming authority likely to lead to confusion, or is likely to be subject to an administrative proceeding under the Dispute Resolution Policy, another name shall be chosen.
It also says: “Where the domain name relates to a proposed non-commercial project, information showing that the applicant has invested significant time, effort, or resources in a project that directly relates to the proposed domain name.”
It is understood that the domains were registered under Katie Murray in July 2016, well in advance of any referendum on the Eighth Amendment, but also at a time when the “repeal” slogan had become widespread among pro-choice supporters.
Smyth said that the Coalition was considering making a formal complaint to the IEDR over this effort to “mislead” the public.
Ongoing debate
The furore over these websites comes before an expected announcement from the government on a date and wording of an upcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment.
Over the past two weeks, TDs both in favour and against repealing the Eighth have made impassioned speeches on the topic in the Dáil.
It came after a three-month process where 21 deputies and senators examined the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on the issue, and listened to evidence from expert legal and medical practitioners.
You can read the full report here, and key points here. It recommends legal abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy without restriction; repealing the Eighth Amendment; and for the government to legislate for abortion.
Some who are pro-life now find themselves wanting the Eighth to be repealed. Some no longer call themselves pro-life. Others feel extremely strongly about their pro-life views, and gave impassioned speeches as to why.
Fianna Fáil leader Michéal Martin, for example, said he’d changed his mind, and was now backing the removal of the Eighth Amendment.
Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar, however, has yet to indicate his stance on the issue while a clear indication from government on the wording of the referendum and potential legislation to follow is expected in the coming weeks.
According to the latest Irish times/MRBI opinion poll published just yesterday, 56% of people said they would vote for a change in the constitution so that the government can legislate for abortion up to 12 weeks.
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You’d actually miss Steve Jobs floating around the place, there’s a lot of charisma gone from the company. The man made a bug look like a feature.
I really like Craig Federighi, he’s a very different vibe to Jobs but his sections have been the highlight of the past few keynotes.
Yup, just what we need. More vacuous crap to excite the cult.
Ahh Jake, was wondering when you’d get here. Excited to see what Samsung will be releasing in 6 months?
It looks this article was initially posted a week or two ago but we now know for certain that the iPad Pro is being announced tonight. 12.9 inch display and much faster processor. And I agree David, Federighi has developed into a really smooth presenter.
@David, we already know what Samsung will announce, another android device giving people the ability to tailor their user experience to their wants in a great value piece of tech, often with groundbreaking invention.
I’ll say it now, the Samsung tab I received as a gift over a year and a half ago (costing my gf 220 quid) remains the most impressive tech device I have ever had for such a small price tag. I use it for 2 hours most evenings, charging it every 4/5 days. The screen is excellent, the processor fast. I’ve bounced it on tiles, carpet and wooden floors and though the back shows a thousand scratches the experience is unchanged.
There’s a difference between build quality and the feel of build quality. I feel Apple hits the latter.
an sd card slot, increased battery life, ah here get a grip on yourself!!!
Did anyone tell iPhone Joan about this
She’s sending some undercover gardai…
Technology wankfest.
There’ll be an announcement that the thing they announced as the GREATEST iTHING IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE a few months ago is now an outdated peice of rubbish that everyone will laught at you over. But you can avoid that laughter by paying even more money for the new GREATEST iTHING IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE. Pay someone to start queueing now!!
iDrones… so predictable
Rose gold is auspicious to the Chinese hence the watch colour.. Pure marketing ploy..
Belfast it is :)
Or parcel motel :)
A massive circle jerk
Did you not get your invitation?
what’s the point !!
Animated backgrounds and motion sensor remote. Give us micro sd slots in phones and a browser for Apple TV
SD slot will never happen when they can get a monthly fee for iCloud.
Sigh.
When you think about it, both those things would be more of a hindrance than a help.
No matter what platform you use, cloud storage is the way forward, and using your TV to browse the Internet, is that really a good way to work?
Just a hyped up outdated product announcements which are based on proprietary outdated technology and too expensive. good marketing job though.
Yeah, big swingin’ Mickey !
Please, please let it be a iPod wheel in-place of a keyboard
You people are crazy if you don’t think that would be greatest invention of the 21st Century
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnLbv6QYcA
My phone is better than your phone woooo me! I am winning! Im going to make you feel inadequate about your phone because my phone has some particular features I use that you dont need. Whats that you have? An iPhone? Seriously? You know Samsungs are better right? OH MY GAWWWWW
Since when is a pic with windows 10 an apple product ?
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