Politics

Where Oireachtas Eighth Amendment committee members stand

Two members say their positions on issue have changed since joining committee

Senator Catherine Noone, the Oireachtas Eighth Amendment committee’s chairwoman, will not use her vote unless there is a tie among the other members. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons

Sarah Bardon
Wed Dec 13 2017 - 05:50

James Browne (Fianna Fáil)

The Wexford TD is in favour of amending article 40.3.3 (the Eighth Amendment) of the Constitution to allow for abortion in certain circumstances. Mr Browne believes terminations should be provided when there is a threat to the woman’s health, mental health or life. He also will support terminations in cases of rape and fatal foetal abnormality.

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fáil)

The Mayo TD is in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment and allowing terminations up to 12 weeks without restriction. Ms Chambers also supports abortion in the cases of fatal foetal abnormalities and when a mother’s health or mental health is at risk.

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Billy Kelleher (Fianna Fáil)

A supporter of the repeal of the Eighth Amendment, the Cork North-Central TD, his party’s health spokesman, has tabled a motion to support terminations without restriction, up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy. He also supports abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality and when a mother’s life and health are at risk.

Clare Daly (Independents 4 Change)

The Dublin Fingal TD is in favour of repealing article 40.3.3 and allowing the Oireachtas to legislate on the issue. Ms Daly supports terminations being granted up to 12 weeks without restriction and in cases of fatal foetal abnormality.

Bernard Durkan (Fine Gael)

The Kildare North TD defines himself as anti-abortion but says there are certain circumstances in which terminations should be considered including rape and incest. Mr Durkan also says the widespread use of abortion pills should be examined as many women are accessing them online.

Peter Fitzpatrick (Fine Gael)

The removal of article 40.3.3 is not supported by the Louth TD, who does not believe abortion should be available in any circumstances.

Mattie McGrath (Rural Independents Group )

The Tipperary TD does not support any change to the constitutional ban on abortion and does not favour terminations in any circumstances.

Catherine Murphy (Social Democrats)

One of her party’s co-leaders, the Kildare North TD supports the repeal of the Eighth Amendment and a GP-led service being allowed to provide abortion pills without reason up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy.

Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael)

A first-time TD for Galway West, Naughton supports the repeal of the Eighth Amendment and will support the regulated use of abortion pills up to 12 weeks. She this week said her position on abortion had changed since becoming a member of the committee.

Jonathan O’Brien (Sinn Féin)

Sinn Féin is in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment and allowing the Oireachtas to legislate. The party supports access to abortions in the cases of rape, incest, fatal foetal abnormality and when the life, health and mental health of a mother is at risk. The Cork North-Central TD began the process as an anti-abortion committee member but has since come around to his party’s position.

Kate O’Connell (Fine Gael)

The Dublin Bay South TD is favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment and allowing the Oireachtas to legislate. She has tabled a motion seeking approval for access of terminations up to 12 weeks and for abortion pills to be distributed through GPs. She also supports terminations in the cases of fatal foetal abnormality and in cases when a mother’s health or mental health is at risk.

Louise O’Reilly (Sinn Féin)

The Dublin Fingal TD has to abide by her party’s position on the subject, which is that it is in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment and allowing the Oireachtas to legislate. She and her colleagues on the committee have sought to move the party position forward on the issue in recent days.

Jan O’Sullivan (Labour)

The former minister for education is in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment. She supports a recommendation to allow unrestricted access to abortion up to 12 weeks.

Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fáil)

The Galway East TD is in favour of amending the Constitution to allow for terminations in certain circumstances. These include rape, fatal foetal abnormality and when there is a risk to the life, health and mental health of the mother.

Bríd Smith (People before Profit)

The People before Profit TD is in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment and allowing the Oireachtas to legislate.

Ms Smith supports the provision of legal access to abortion. In the cases of fatal foetal abrnomalities, Ms Smith is proposing there be no gestational limits applicable.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

The Cork-based senator is in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment and allowing the Oireachtas to legislate. The former Cork South-Central TD has not stated his position publicly but is understood to support the access to terminations up to 12 weeks into a pregnancy.

Paul Gavan (Sinn Féin)

The senator has, like his party colleagues, followed the Sinn Féin line on abortion, which is that Eighth Amendment should be repealed and the Oireachtas allowed to legislate on the subject. The party supports access to abortions in the cases of rape, incest, fatal foetal abnormality and when the life, health and mental health of a mother is at risk.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)

The National University of Ireland senator does not support any change to the constitutional ban on abortion.

Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)

The committee’s chairwoman, the Dublin-based senator will not use her vote unless there is a tie among the other members.

Ned O’Sullivan (Fianna Fáil)

The senator is in favour of terminations up to 12 weeks and supports the removal of the Eighth Amendment from the Constitution. Mr O’Sullivan has said his position on the issue has changed since becoming a member of the committee.

Lynn Ruane (Civil Engagement Group)

The University of Dublin senator is in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment and allowing the Oireachtas to legislate. She supports the termination of pregnancy, without restriction, up to 22 weeks and abortions in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, with no gestational limits.

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