Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Sinn Féin to urge Cork City Council to call on Government to legislate for the 'X' Case

Sinn Féin is to bring a motion before Cork City Council next Monday evening asking councillors to call on the government to introduce immediate legislation based on the X-Case.

Tomorrow,the party will propose a Dáil motion with the aim of compelling the Government to introduce legislation based on the 1992 ruling on the Supreme Court. However, local Sinn Féin Councillors are determined that the moves to bring about such legislation are strengthened by securing support at local council level.

Sinn Féin Councillor Mick Nugent said:
“This is an issue that resonates with women right across local communities and it would be irresponsible of us, as local political representatives, not to raise it in council. The legislation is long over-due and it is only right that the call for its introduction is heard at every level of government.”

“It is time to enact legislation to protect the rights of women as decided by the Supreme Court in 1992. We must also ensure that doctors have the protection of the law to act appropriately in circumstances where the life of the woman is in danger. It’s farcical that successive Governments have failed to act on this ruling. Government TDs in Cork can call the motion ‘opportunistic” all they want. Sinn Féin policy has been in-line with the X-case judgement for well over a decade. All that aside,I honestly don’t think that the public cares where this motion comes from. The political point-scoring isn’t going to be of interest anybody. People just want meaningful action from right across the political spectrum.”

“We now have a very specific climate. It is a climate in which policy and legislation have to come to the fore. The current coalition must now respond to the demands of the public following the tragic death of Savita Halappanvar.”

“I am mindful that this is a personal and sensitive topic for many people. I also acknowledge that there are enquiries into the tragedy and we have to await the findings to know exactly what happened. However, we have an obligation to ensure that women have the right to highest quality of care throughout pregnancy. This includes the right to have a termination should the awful circumstances arise in which the mother’s life is threatened. We are asking all councillors to support the motion and to place an onus on the government to act.”

Sinn Féin motion for Cork City Council reads:
'Following the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar, this council calls on the Government to immediately introduce legislation to give effect to the 1992 judgement of the Supreme Court in the 'X' Case, to protect women where their lives are in real danger and to give legal certainty to medical professionals.'

ENDS
For further information please contact Cllr. Mick Nugent on 0876755793

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