Independent Ministers ‘cherry-picking’ the Constitution

There were heated exchanges in the Seanad when Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys accused Independent Alliance Ministers of attempting to "cherry-pick the Constitution" on abortion legislation.

Mr Humphreys said he supported the Protection of Life in Pregnancy (Amendment) (Fatal Foetal Abnormalities) (No 2) Bill introduced by Mick Wallace in the Dáil last week.

He believed there was a need to repeal the Eighth Amendment prohibiting abortion to make this change, allowing for terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities. But he hit out at the Independent Alliance Ministers, Shane Ross, Finian McGrath and John Halligan.

They are supporting the Bill in tomorrow’s vote, despite advice to the Government from the Attorney General that the legislation is unconstitutional.

Mr Humphreys called for the Taoiseach to be asked to “come here and answer for the role the Cabinet is taking regarding upholding the Constitution”.

Leas-Chathaoirleach Paul Coghlan said he should not name people outside the Seanad and it was not the place to debate matters more relevant to the Dáil.

But Mr Humphreys said: “I am deeply worried when I hear officeholders using terms such as ‘I do not know whether the Bill is anti-constitutional and I do not care.’”

Referring to collective Cabinet responsibility, he expressed concern that “members of the Cabinet now seem to cherry-pick regarding the advice they take from the Attorney General and whether it is okay to take the advice from the Attorney General on whether to pay one’s water charges bill or whether one acts as part of the collective in Cabinet”.