Ireland Prime Minister Unveils Bill to Legalize Free Abortions

International   |   Micaiah Bilger   |   Jul 10, 2018   |   12:37PM   |   Dublin, Ireland

Irish government leaders are pushing for free, taxpayer-funded abortions in a bill to legalize the killing of unborn babies in Ireland.

In May, Ireland voted to repeal its Eight Amendment, which protected unborn babies’ right to life. Now, politicians are considering radical pro-abortion legislation that would force the Catholic nation to embrace abortion on demand.

On Tuesday, pro-abortion Health Minister Simon Harris said the government approved two bills to be introduced to the legislature, Reuters reports.

The legislation would allow abortions for any reason up to 12 weeks of pregnancy and even later in a wide range of circumstances. According to the report, the bills also would force taxpayers to fund abortions and create buffer zones around abortion facilities to block pro-lifers from reaching out to women.

“I have received government approval for two new policy areas to be included in legislation. The first is that [abortions] will be provided on a universal basis — so that cost is not a barrier for women to access these services,” Harris said.

“The second is the provision of safe access zones — areas around premises where abortion services are provided where patients and staff can go without fear of intimidation or harassment, and without being subjected to posters or protests,” he continued.

These proposals are additions to the original legislation that Harris and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar promoted prior to the referendum vote, NewsTalk reports.

Because of court challenges to the referendum, the Oireachtas will not consider the legislation until after the summer recess, according to the report.

The increasingly radical pro-abortion legislation has doctors and medical providers concerned, as well as pro-life advocates across the nation. In June, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar indicated that religious hospitals will be forced to abort unborn babies and doctors will be forced to either do abortions or refer women to doctors who will.

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“It will not, however, be possible for publicly funded hospitals, no matter who their patron or owner is, to opt of providing these necessary services which will be legal in this state once this legislation is passed by the Dail and Seanad,” Varadkar said. “I’m happy to give you that assurance.

Varadkar said doctors and nurses will be allowed to opt out of providing abortions. However, he said they will be required to refer women for abortions, even if it goes against their conscience.

The government leaders’ proposal would legalize abortion for any reason up to 12 weeks of pregnancy and up to six months in a wide variety of circumstances. It would force taxpayers to pay for abortions and allow eugenic abortions that discriminate against unborn babies with disabilities.

Harris repeatedly has claimed the legislation does not allow abortions on the grounds of a disability. But in June, Harris said he would oppose an amendment to prohibit eugenic abortions, She Magazine reports.

Pro-life lawmakers are considering a number of amendments that would give unborn babies at least some protections in Ireland.

Despite the devastating setback in May, pro-life advocates have vowed to keep fighting to protect unborn babies, mothers and conscience rights for medical professionals across Ireland.