Bank customers urged to complain to Gardai if harassed over mortgage arrears

Regarding the acts and other points of information contact the Common Law Society or Debt Options.

http://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/property-mortgages/bank-customers-urged-to-complain-to-gardai-if-harassed-over-mortgage-arrears-29427786.html

MICHAEL BRENNAN DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR – 17 JULY 2013

BANK customers who feel they have been harassed by their banks over their mortgage arrears have been urged to use a little-known power to make complaints to the Gardai.

It came after leading psychiatrist Ivor Browne said he had written to banks on behalf of financially stressed patients telling them he will hold them responsible in the event of a patient's suicide

In the Seanad, Labour Senator Lorraine Higgins said that bank customers had a right to complain about unfair pressure from banks under the 1997 Non-Fatal Offenses Against the Person Act.

“They do not have a right to destroy people’s lives and that of their families by exerting pressure on a daily basis,” she said.

Under the act, it is an offence for a bank representative to demand the repayment of a debt so frequently that they would cause “alarm, distress or humiliation” for the householder or their family. The penalty on conviction is a fine of €1,905. However, there has been only one conviction under this section of the act between 2003 and 2009.

Speaking afterwards to the Irish Independent, Ms Higgins said it provided an extra layer of protection for bank customers  - on top of the restrictions on phone calls and visits in the code of conduct for banks.

“Anybody can walk to their garda station and make a complaint that they are being harassed by their bank. It’s a decision that will be made by the Gardai based on the number of phone calls and visits,” she said.

However, Ms Higgins said there had been a low level of prosecutions under this section of the act so far.

“We are very shy at enforcing the law in Ireland,” she said.

The Master of the High Court has previously warned that the banks are driving some borrowers who can not pay their debts to suicide. Ed Honohan, brother of Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan, said he had dealt with several debt cases where the borrowers had subsequently taken their own lives.

Read More

Junior Minister Seán Sherlock denies crisis in Labour Party

Last April thousands of people stood outside the Labour Party conference in Galway in protest. 1st April is over, Seán.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0406/380046-labour/

Minister of State for Research and Innovation Seán Sherlock has said that there is no crisis in the Labour Party in Government.

Speaking on RTÉ's Saturday with Claire Byrne programme, the Labour TD for Cork East said he fully acknowledged that Labour had not yet been able to deliver on child benefit and student registration fees.

He said Labour was only two years into a five-year mandate and the party felt it was probably shouldering 100% of the blame.

Mr Sherlock said the public discourse is that the decisions that have been made are largely at the door of Labour.

He said there were some people suggesting that the leadership was trying to stifle a conference.

He said it was decided by the party's executive last October not to hold a conference until autumn because of the Irish presidency of the European Union.

Mr Sherlock said Labour was going through a very difficult phase.

He said it was not the first time it has been at this juncture when it decided to go into Government in very tough economic times.

He acknowledged that there are members who have left the parliamentary party but said there was a unitary level of purpose among those who meet weekly in the party.

Earlier, more than 60 Labour Party members met in Dublin to campaign for the party's policies to be implemented in Government.

The group called for an immediate special party conference to seek an urgent review of the Programme for Government.

MEP Nessa Childers urged Labour Party members to take action to save the party and the people it represents.

Ms Childers, who yesterday resigned from Labour's parliamentary party, got a standing ovation at the meeting this morning.

She said taking a stand is not easy, but said she was sick and tired of worrying about offending the leadership.

The party is running out of time and urgent action is required, even if that means getting into conflict with Labour TDs, she said.

Read More

Labour and Damage Control!

Last April (2012) saw thousands of Irish people protest outside the Labour party conference in Galway. Today, Nessa Childers and other Labour party members met in Dublin. Rejected in Meath East and came in fifth behind the newly formed Direct Democracy Ireland. Whilst Gilmore, Rabbitte and Quinn’s pensions are safe, the Labour party are worried about being wiped out at the local and general election.

Read More

Labour Party run away at Count Centre!

Whilst Gilmore, Quinn and Rabbitte will exit politics on good pensions, the result in Meath East has seen the demise of the Labour party.

Read More

Bye, Bye Labour!

With less than a third of the people voting in the Meath East by-election, the major news is the implosion of the Labour party. Eoin Holmes managed to get 1,112 first preferences and came fifth. The new political service, Direct Democracy Ireland came fourth with Ben Gilroy getting 6.5 per cent of the vote. This was his first outing in an election, so a good result.

Whilst not reaching the quota Helen McEntee of Fine Gael was elected.

Read More

Joan Burton ran out of Dundalk by the people

Well done to the patriots who ran this politician out of town. Well done, Dundalk.

Read More

Labour Party on Debt and Jobs!

Labour party propaganda on Roxboro Road in Limerick city.

Read More

Eamon Gilmore and Water Charges!

From 1997.

http://irishelectionliterature.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/dunlnews97a.jpg

Read More

AIB director defends €59k salary for 60 days work

More news regarding the ‘public interest directors’ of the banks.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/aib-director-defends-59k-salary-for-60-days-work-578532.html

“20/12/2012 - 14:00:04
Former Tánaiste Dick Spring, who represents the taxpayer on the board of AIB, has defended his salary as "reasonable".
Mr Spring is a public interest director at the bank and was paid €59,000 for 60 days work last year.
He also receives one of the largest state pensions of more than €121,000.

The former Labour Party leader said the pay is appropriate for the work he does and that he has turned down higher paying jobs.
Mr Spring said: "My pension as a former deputy, which you will be entitled to in time, and as a former minister you will achieve a ministerial pension if you enter ministerial office, and I think you will be perfectly entitled to it.

"There is another way of looking at this, I have turned down numerous invitations to take up other positions which would be equally, if not more lucrative, than working for Allied Irish Bank, I have turned them down."

Meanwhile, the Government nominee to the board of AIB has said there will be "no divine mercy" when it comes to dealing with homeowners in arrears.
Michael Somers has told the Oireachtas Finance Committee that while people won't be thrown out on the streets, this is an issue that will have to be dealt with.”

Read More

A Good Resume of the Budget

An analysis as found on NAMA Wine Lake.

Budget 2013 – final words

December 16, 2012 by namawinelake

Just as it seemed as if it had been pulled off and a week after unveiling a draconian and unfair budget, with ministers stonewalling and boostering and the media cycle about to come to an end, a single dissenter in the Labour Party now threatens to split the Party and consequently undermine the Coalition. And that legacy of Budget 2013 will survive for weeks to come, it seems. Meanwhile the Social Welfare Bill and Property Tax Bill seem set to be voted into law before Christmas, so this is just an overview of what has happened in Budget 2013.

(1) The promise not to increase income tax was broken by Fine Gael – this was an election commitment which made it into the Programme for Government which commits the Coalition to “ Maintain the current rates of income tax together with bands and credits. We will not increase the top marginal rates of taxes on income. We will reduce, cap or abolish property tax reliefs and other tax shelters which benefit very high income earners. We will also ensure the implementation of a minimum effective tax rate of 30% for very high earners  “. And the Labour Party broke again its commitment, which didn’t make it into the Programme for Government, to cut child benefit.  Now the Government has been getting a relatively free ride by claiming PRSI is not an income tax, but as far as the IMF is concerned, PAYE, USC and PRSI are all income taxes. Both Labour and Fine Gael abandoned pre-election commitments not to tax the family home. Promises and commitments have been broken.

(2) The Fiscal Advisory Council was ignored (again). The independent Fiscal Advisory Council set up in a rush in July 2011 to meet an IMF deadline, again produced its pre-budget analysis and recommendations at a very general level for the Irish economy. And again, the Government and particularly, the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan “noted” the advice but for the second year running, dismissed it. The Council refused to do the honorable thing which was to resign which would then prompt the IMF to re-engage on the matter and presumably take robust steps to force the Government to establish some mechanism which would prevent the Charlie McCreevy “if we have it, we’ll spend it” type of economic policy perspective. But instead of resigning, the Council has remain muted on its role. Very disappointing.

(3) There was consultation amongst ministers before the Budget was announced, but not what was anticipated by the electorate or ministers when this commitment was made in the Programme for Government “We will open up the Budget process to the full glare of public scrutiny in a way that restores confidence and stability by exposing and cutting failing programmes and pork barrel politics.“ It was reportedly eight days before the Budget announcement when the four members of the Economic Management Council, Enda Kenny, Eamon Gilmore, Michael Noonan and Brendan Howlin, handed down the Budget to other ministers. This was the first time reportedly when they all saw the Budget though there had been bilateral consultations and exchanges beforehand. It was reportedly seven days before the Budget announcement when the government parliamentary parties had sight of the Budget and that’s when the leaks started. And there was a final meeting five days before the Budget announcement when the parties tried to push their own agendas but there was very limited change. All of this of course happened behind closed doors so we can only speculate about the reports, but it is a fact that there was very little prior consultation or “opening up the Budget process to the full glare of public scrutiny”

(4) The property tax is rushed and un-costed. Many people are still scratching their heads at the calculations underpinning next year’s estimates. What is clear is that the Budget announcement on 5th December 2012 was followed by the publication on 6th December 2012 of the expert report that has been sitting on Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan’s desk since June, followed by the publication of the 66-page Property Tax Bill on the 7th December 2012, and it is likely that the Bill will become law before Christmas 2012. So it has been rushed, there has been little consultation or debate and as revealed on here during the week, you can probably take the estimates of yield with a pinch of salt.

(5) Savings of €390m in Minister Joan Burton’s Department of Social Protection are more or less easy to see. Welfare is being cut. But there are even bigger savings in Minister James Reilly’s Department of Health, but people are scratching their heads wondering if the savings are feasible. And people have good reason to be suspicious – in 2012, it is Minister Reilly’s Department which has singularly failed to deliver savings – yes social protection is also up, but unless you cut benefit rates, the social welfare budget will be set by the number of people claiming.

(6) The debate and engagement by the Government in the aftermath of the Budget announcements were atrocious. It is 22 months since Fianna Fail was in power and this is the second Coalition budget and yet, any attempt by Fianna Fail to tease out or examine or debate budget adjustments was generally met with the refrain that reduces to Fianna Fail, a party which received 17% of the votes in February 2011, should not criticize or challenge this Government’s policies because of that Party’s record in office. And as for Sinn Fein, because of its legacy in the Troubles in Northern Ireland on one hand and because of its role in an administration in Northern Ireland, a country which depends on a €15bn annual subvention from Westminister, that Party which received 10% of the votes in February 2011 should not criticize or challenge this Government’s policies. For outsiders looking in at the operation of democracy in this State, this is patently shameful.

(7) No debt deal. Remember that it has been at least 15 months since Minister Noonan set off for Poznan in Poland for an meeting of finance ministers and where private talks were held with the ECB’s then-president, Jean Claude Trichet. Yes, it really was at least 15 months ago since negotiations started on our bank debt burden. Since then there has been the blether about technical papers being prepared by the Troika, a “re-engineering of the promissory notes”, an event in March 2011 when the Government settled the promissory note payment that then fell due by issuing a new sovereign bond. The Government said it didn’t “pay” the promissory note, but if that were true, you don’t “pay” for your meal in a restaurant if you settle by credit card. That’s what the Government did, and the credit card analogy is particularly apt because the sovereign bond issued to settle the obligation carries an interest rate of 5.4% per annum which is almost twice the interest charge on the bailout cash. Then in June 2012, we had talk of “game-changers” and “hard graft” and our very own Playboy of the Western World wooed us when he said that some people in Europe found out he was not someone to be tangled with too easily. There was an indication there would be a debt deal by October 2012, then that it would be settled before the Budget 2013 announcement and the latest is that there will be a deal in place by March 2013, and although there may well be a change in which the promissory note is repaid, the word on the street is that any new arrangement will be mostly optics and will not materially alter Ireland’s debt burnden.

(8) No bankers remuneration report. Even since the Fianna Fail finance spokesperson Michael McGrath reignited the furore about bankers’ salaries and pensions when AIB turned up for an Oireachtas hearing in October 2012, the Government has been protesting that (a) it is powerless to interfere in remuneration paid to bankers in utterly bust banks in which the finance minister owns all the shares (b) that the Government has commissioned yet another expert report to examine bankers’ salaries. No-one regards this tactic as anything other than an attempt to kick the issue into the long grass, and it does not take six months for a consultancy at a cost of €120,000 to produce a report – no, it takes seven months, even though An Taoiseach indicated the report could have been available before the Budget 2013 announcements. At this stage, we can conclude there is no political will to interfere in these salary arrangements and that it just for Paddies to offer up waivers of their salaries.

(9) Political salaries were left untouched, save for a minor reduction in the allowance paid to Independent TD’s in lieu of a leaders allowance and the fact that such allowances will need be evidenced with receipts, there was nary a finger laid on political pay and perks in Budget 2013 save for the €264 per annum extra that TDs and senators will need cough up in income tax/PRSI payments in 2013. Remind yourselves here how much the 166 TDs and 60 senators are paid in pay and perks, it’s both a scandal in the context of a Budget that should have placed solidarity at its heart but more practically, it makes a joke of Ireland adopting the “poor mouth” and shaking the begging bowl for a debt deal at our partners in Europe, when our own politicians earn more, and often substantially more, than those same partners.

(10) This Budget looks extremely regressive and the ESRI will no doubt give their verdict shortly, but what seems clear of that the Budget was not tested in advance to determine its impact on poverty levels. The spinning from the Government of the €500m of measures aimed at the wealthy out of a total Budget adjustment of €3.5bn is insultingly wrong, half the €500m – the change to pension allowances where the final pension will pay €60,000 or more per year – will only kick in, in 2014. So in 2013, a mere €250m of wealth-focussed taxes out of a total adjustment of €3.5bn will obtain. Ireland continues to have a progressive tax system, meaning those with more income pay more, but both the 2011 and now this, Budget have been regressive.

Will any of this make any difference? We will need wait for the next opinion poll to see how far the Government parties have dropped but even dramatic changes are unlikely to be taken seriously at this stage of the Government’s term, which naturally has another three years to run. The Labour Party’s internal troubles have a more immediate and profound potential, and it seems there are two sides emerging in a battle for the soul of the Labour Party, and this ultimately has the potential to undermine the Government and change the political landscape.

So broken promises, the independent fiscal council as useful as a chocolate teapot – but by God, they will not resign on principle – no debt deal, minimal pre-budget consultation, a mockery of debate, no debt relief and politicians acting like kleptocrats keeping their own pay and perks, and those of bailed out bankers, whilst slashing around them. And one lone voice of dissent amongst 110 TDs. So adieu then to the Budget until next year, when a further €3bn-odd will be taken out of the economy in Budget 2014.

Read More

What's It All About, Labour?

http://abortioninireland.blogspot.ie/2012/12/whats-it-all-about-labour.html

See also the blog article:

NWCI CAMPAIGNS FOR ABORTION WITH YOUR TAX MONEY

http://abortioninireland.blogspot.ie/2012/11/nwci-campaigns-for-abortion-with-your.html

“National Women's Council of Ireland”

Read More

Labour triumphant over abortion laws pledge

Unlike Fine Gael, the Labour party never claim to be Christian Democratic and have always favoured the ‘British model’ regarding abortion. This is abortion on demand and right up to birth. It is expected many in the Labour party will retire at the next general election.

See article below.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/labour-triumphant-over-abortion-laws-pledge-3331548.html#mainColumn

“Wednesday December 19 2012

A TRIUMPHANT Labour Party is declaring victory on abortion policy following a historic Coalition decision to bring in new laws – which has angered some in Fine Gael, writes Fionnan Sheahan.

Labour proclaimed repeatedly it had delivered on its promise to legislate for the X Case, which a senior Fine Gael figure privately said was "sickening".

Labour issued no less than seven separate statements from party figures hailing the Government's decision.

However, the celebratory tone did not go down well with many members of their coalition partners Fine Gael, which is facing internal turmoil over how the legislation is worded.

Health Minister James Reilly said he was conscious of the sensitivities of the contentious issue, but said that ensuring the safety of pregnant women was a priority.

"We will clarify in legislation and regulation what is available by way of treatment to a woman when a pregnancy gives rise to a threat to a woman's life," Dr Reilly said.

"We will also clarify what is legal for the professionals who must provide that care while at all times taking full account of the equal right to life of the unborn child."

Nowhere in its statement did the Government refer directly to suicide. However, the Supreme Court ruling on the X Case cited the threat of suicide as a legitimate risk to life, giving grounds for abortion.

Irish Independent”

Read More

“Abortion Taoiseach”

With political retirements expected at the next general election an interesting piece here from John Drennan in the Sunday Independent. See below.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/kenny-told-stitchup-on-x-case-will-cause-revolt-3327194.html

Kenny told 'stitch-up' on X Case will cause revolt

By JOHN DRENNAN

Sunday December 16 2012

Senior FG figures warn Taoiseach not to rush decision on legislation

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been warned that if the Government attempts to rush through any "stitch-up'' when it presents its proposed response to legislating for the X Case next week, he will face a major Fine Gael revolt.

The Government is expected to present its response on Tuesday, but Mr Kenny was warned that he will "be seen to be in absolute breach of his word if anything resembling a final solution is presented next week".

And the claim by Eamon Gilmore that he and Mr Kenny would resolve the abortion issue by Christmas has sparked a furious response from senior Fine Gael figures who warned that "the Government must absolutely facilitate an open-ended debate that is respectful of all views'' before it finalises its response to the Ryan report.

They added: "A very significant number of people will not accept a stitch-up. . . as part of some divvy-up to facilitate the wishes of the Labour Party.''

The mood amongst the wing of Fine Gael that is suspicious of any attempt to legislate for suicide will have been hardened by a letter sent to all of the party's representatives by 11 top-level consultant psychiatrists.

The letter was signed by Jacqueline Montwill, consultant psychiatrist for Mayo Mental Health Services; Eugene Breen, CP Mater University Hospital; Alan Byrne, CP Naas; Patricia Casey, professor of psychiatry Mater/UCD; Ciaran Clarke, CP Barringtons Limerick; Brid Corkery, CP St Stephen's Hospital Cork; Brian Houlihan, consultant child psychiatrist at Children's University Hospital Temple St; Richelle Kirrane, CP John Connolly Hospital; Martin Mahon, CP John Connolly Hospital; Bernie McCabe, CP Navan Mental Health Services, and Geraldine Lyster, CP St Brigid's Hospital Louth

Significantly, the letter claims that "termination of pregnancy is not a psychiatric treatment for suicidality, nor is it mentioned as such in any of the major textbooks of psychiatry''.

The letter also expresses the belief that "offering an abortion to a distressed person who is psychiatrically ill would be strongly ill-advised since the person's capacity to make important life decisions is frequently impaired".

Political sources have said that tensions have arisen between Mr Kenny and Justice Minister Alan Shatter over Mr Shatter's response to the Expert Group Report on Abortion which appeared, to many observers, to implicitly endorse the development of a far more liberal abortion regime than the simple outworking of the X Case Supreme Court Judgement.

However, opinion within Fine Gael is so divided over the issue of legislation. Lucinda Creighton has made it clear she will resign if any legislation is too liberal.

Ms Creighton was not available for comment. However, Fine Gael sources also noted that "Shatter is driving every-one mad. He is complaining the X Case is not enough."

Within Fine Gael it is believed that at least 30 TDs and senators remain to be convinced by the virtues of the legislative route. These include Ms Creighton; Derek Keating; Michelle Mulherin; Regina Doherty; John O'Mahony; John Paul Phelan; Brian Walsh; Peter Mathews; party chairperson Charles Flanagan; Terence Flanagan; Billy Timmins; Sean Conlon; Michael Creed; John Deasy; James Bannon; Paul Connaughton, Tony McLoughlin; Jim Daly; Marcella Corcoran Kennedy; Patrick O'Donovan; and a number of senators such as Paul Bradford.

One source noted: "It is not that we are medieval about what women can or cannot do with their bodies. Our concern is about issues such as how do we define suicide and is it the case that we run the risk of following the path of other jurisdictions where this legislation could be used to introduce a UK-style abortion regime though the back door.''

Another source asked: "How do we define regulations for suicides? Dan Neville, who is the expert on this issue, admitted it is actually impossible to form a conclusion on suicidal ideation.''

TDs were also anxious to clarify that "this is not about being controlled by Opus Dei or priests and nuns waving rosary beads. People have genuine issues of conscience."

- JOHN DRENNAN

Read More

Pat Rabbitte "Isn't that what you tend to do during an election?"

The Labour party are finished.

 

 

Read More

Rabbitte: Backbenchers knew how tough Budgets would be

Pat Rabbitte will be among those politicians retiring at the next election. The vast majority of people in Ireland are fed up of political parties. The Irish people deserve much better. People need to take back the power and do things for themselves. 2013 will be a crucial year in rebuilding Ireland.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/budget/breaking/rabbitte-backbenchers-knew-how-tough-budgets-would-be-577367.html

10/12/2012 - 15:51:51
Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte said today that rebel Labour backbenchers knew from the start how tough the recent Budget was going to be.
The Coalition is adamant that the Budget as announced last week will be passed without amendment and that calls for a reversal of cuts in child benefit and respite grant will not be entertained.

Minister Pat Rabbitte said that the worst of the Budgets are now over and that as the economy grows next year, future Budgets will be easier.
He said that backbenchers and Ministers have known since the day they decided to go into Government just how tough this would be.
"The Budget may be a bitter pill to swallow, but they accept that if we're going to get this economy back on the road to recovery, unpalatable things had to be done," he said.

"We knew that on day one.
"The leader of the party told people at the conference in which they made the decision to go into Government that it wouldn't be long before they would be wading through a forest of placards."

Read More

"Labour will not agree to child benefit cut" says GiImore

A video from the official Irish Labour party YouTube channel. 

Another ‘election promise’ broken. Who is surprised? Eamon Gilmore will retire on a good pension.  Labour= Traitor. James Connolly was a man of principle.  Labour are finished.

Read More

Labour Party legacy to Ireland

With many Labour politicians expected to retire at the next election, will their parting shot be, abortion. In the sham that was the Children’s Rights referendum,  Labour urged a ‘Yes’ vote. Now, they are seeking to allow for the killing of the unborn child during a ‘limited abortion’.A vote for Labour will be a vote for abortion should this political party contest future elections.

 

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1126/breaking5.html

Labour to seek limited abortion

MARY MINIHAN

Labour will this week press for an early Cabinet commitment to legislate for limited abortion amid party concerns about Minister for Health James Reilly’s ability to implement a new legal framework.

The expert group on abortion’s report will be brought to Cabinet tomorrow. It says legislation consistent with the Supreme Court ruling on the X case is required and this should be followed by ministerial regulations.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin yesterday said the Government would act “speedily” and insisted the Coalition would not be the seventh administration to fail to act on the 1992 judgment.
An early statement of intent by Cabinet this week would provide cover for Labour backbenchers who will come under pressure to vote for former Socialist TD Clare Daly’s revamped abortion Bill on Wednesday night.

A group of Fine Gael TDs opposed to what they regard as “liberalisation” of abortion laws is expected to lobby Dr Reilly with their concerns about cases involving threatened suicide. Cork deputy Jim Daly said he “would be concerned that that might lead to abortion on demand”.
There is widespread disgruntlement among Fine Gael TDs that the expert group’s report was leaked to media outlets before they saw it. Party chairman Charlie Flanagan said: “I find it very regrettable that the report has been leaked ... and the public representatives haven’t seen it yet.”
In addition, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald called for Dr Reilly’s resignation over the weekend after The Irish Times disclosed that two locations in Dr Reilly’s North Dublin constituency were added to a list of places chosen for primary care centres the evening before the Government announcement.

There is also some doubt within Labour on Dr Reilly’s ability to steer legislation for limited abortion through the Oireachtas. However, Mr Howlin said he “absolutely” supported his Cabinet colleague, whom he said had one of the most difficult jobs in public life.
Dáil debate
Mr Howlin said on RTÉ’s This Week he hoped a “calm, considered, comprehensive” debate would begin in the Dáil this week, “and very speedily thereafter the Government will come to its own decisions in terms of drafting legislation and presenting that to the Oireachtas”.
The expert group’s report says women who have been refused abortions should have access to an appeals process to seek a review. Particular centres where terminations can take place should be specified.

The group of medical and legal experts favour setting out the provision of abortion in primary legislation, with related operational matters delegated to the Minister to govern through regulations.

Abortions could take place only when a risk to the life of the mother could be averted by terminating a pregnancy.
The report was commissioned before the death of Savita Halappanavar in University Hospital Galway in October. Ms Halappanavar’s husband, Praveen, has said doctors refused a termination when she was miscarrying because a foetal heartbeat was still present.
Labour Senator Ivana Bacik said: “It will be difficult to oppose Clare Daly’s Bill without some statement of intent to legislate.”

Read More

Labour MEP and exploitation of death of Savita Halappanavar

This comes as it is confirmed that pro-abortion groups met to discuss ways to exploit the death of Savita.

http://www.galwaynews.ie/28901-labour-mep-slams-exploitation-savita-halappanavars-death

“November 20, 2012 - 2:04pm

LABOUR MEP SLAMS EXPLOITATION OF SAVITA HALAPPANAVAR'S DEATH

Labour MEP Phil Prendergast says she does not believe that Savita Halappanavar died because physicians wouldn’t terminate her pregnancy for religious or legal reasons.

Ms Prendergast – who worked as a midwife for years – says it is not credible that staff would blatantly disregard the life of the mother in favour of an unviable foetus.

She’s urging people to await the outcome of the inquiries into Ms Halappanavar’s death before jumping to wrong conclusions.

Ms Prendergast was speaking in Strasbourg where more than 50 MEPs have signed a letter demanding that the Taoiseach introduce abortion legislation.

The Labour MEP has slammed the move as a cynical exploitation of a tragedy and is pleading with people to take a more balanced view of what may have happened to Savita.”

Read More