Can voters believe Allister Matthews (January 21) when he says Sinn Féin doesn’t support abortion on demand? Sadly the record contradicts his claim.
On every occasion and in every legislature where Sinn Féin politicians take their seats they’ve consistently voted for wider access to abortion. Not once have they supported a measure to tighten the law or maintain protection for unborn children.
In the assembly, March 12 2012 Martin McGuinness and his colleagues signed a Petition of Concern to block legislation which would have prevented commercial abortionists like Marie Stopes International, from expanding their business into Northern Ireland. But rather than protect the lives of Irish babies Sinn Féin voted to defend the interests of the British abortion industry.
The party also wants to allow doctors to abort children diagnosed with severe disabilities or babies allegedly conceived in rape. Even the Abortion Act didn’t allow abortion on grounds of rape since it would have effectively introduced abortion on demand.
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In the Dáil, Sinn Féin voted in support of the abortion Bill introduced by Clare Daly TD. This bill sought to legalise abortion up to birth on mental health grounds, force doctors opposed to abortion to perform them, criminalise pro-life activity outside abortion centres and even authorise abortions to be carried out on women incapable of consenting to the procedure. Daly’s Bill was so extreme that it was defeated by 111 votes to 20. Nine of Sinn Féin’s, 10 TDs, including Gerry Adams, backed the bill. The only member of Sinn Féin who did not support the Daly Bill was later disciplined by the party.
In the European Parliament in 2007 a resolution calling for access to reproductive and sexual rights, including access to legalised abortion, was welcomed by Sinn Féin’s MEPs. Both Bairbre de Brún and Mary Lou McDonald voted for its adoption.
Speaking in Stormont in the 2012 debate Catriona Ruane said: “Sometimes, members believe that our position north and south is different. Let me reassure the house that our position is exactly the same north and south.”
In the Republic Sinn Féin openly supports the introduction of laws which are even more extreme than the British Abortion Act so how can anyone say the party doesn’t support abortion on demand. It’s time Sinn Féin was honest with the Catholic and nationalist voters of the North.
LIAM GIBSON
Newtownabbey, Co Antrim
Different perspective on reunification of Ireland
I wish to reply to the letter from Jack Duffin (January 19) as I am from the Protestant community but would very much like to see the reunification of our country. I have a different perspective from Jack and this is probably because of my Protestant background. Let’s remember when making sweeping statements about British imperialism that countries such as Spain, Portugal, France and Holland were engaged in exactly the same sort of activity that Jack accuses England of. It has nothing to do with the nationality of these people that they pillaged as imperialists throughout the world, it was more to do with their social and economic class and the predominance of laissez faire capitalism. If you could lay your anti-British anger aside Jack you would be able to see that there have been lots of more positive aspects to British culture eg trade unionism, labour representation and a myriad of other cultural positives. Remember also that among the millions of Europeans who set up the US that Irishmen were to the fore, can any of us be proud of the way the indigenous people of north America were treated by all of us? Let us all remove the chips from our shoulders and I hope as Jack does that some day we will see our country peacefully united and that we can build an Ireland that respects all cultures and can remove the scourge of inequality that exists on both sides of the border.
ROY HENDERSON
Belfast BT14
Nepotism in Catholic schools is happening
Eugene O’Neill (December 14) has indeed a very idealised view on the way teachers are recruited within the Catholic school system. While it is accepted that not all new recruits are ‘family’, nepotism in Catholic Schools is so common in Co Down that many newly qualified teachers and indeed experienced teachers know before applying for a vacancy who has been ‘hand-picked’ for the job.
The whole process reeks of discrimination. The CCMS should be abolished. They are irrelevant as they are incapable of providing and applying equality, ethical and moral grounding to their selection process. Their most prominent staff have been former head teachers. How then can children’s education remain a priority when teachers are not specifically selected to fit their needs.
The suggestion by Mrs Dodwell (January 12) for an independent body to replace the CCMS would be a fair and equitable idea. However, this would be dependent on who this new body would employ and how accountable they would be. The true extent of nepotism in Catholic schools needs to be unearthed.
EAMON O'hUIGIN
Downpatrick, Co Down
Visualising a new Ireland
I would like to invite your readers to a café conversation in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry on Saturday February 13 at noon.
The title of the event is: ‘Visualising a New Ireland: what is accountable government and how do we get agreement for it among the people of Ireland’.
The special guest speaker is Dr Martin Alioth – UK and Ireland representative for Swiss National Radio.
Dr Alioth will explain the Swiss confederal political system of participatory democracy. It has helped
Switzerland to become one of the most stable and prosperous countries in Europe.
People attending the meeting will have the opportunity to ask questions and present their vision for a new Ireland.
The event is organised by New Ireland Vision, a non-party political group of people from various traditions in Ireland. Our aim is to see more accountable government on this island through the process of peace. We would love readers to come along and take part in this discussion.
For more information visit newirelandvision.com
FRANCIS GALLAGHER
Castlewellan, Co Down
Expression of thanks
The board and staff of Rosemount House hostel for residents recovering from alcohol/drug addiction, wish to convey sincere thanks and gratitude to all those who visited or contributed to the hostel over the Christmas period. Included among the many are Bishop Noel Treanor for his pastoral visit on Christmas Day, the peoples’ boxing champion Michael Conlan for giving up his Christmas morning to serve a fry for staff and residents.
To all those who delivered items for our street outreach programme for Belfast’s rough sleepers and foreign nationals.
Many thanks also to our main funders ‘Supporting People’ and the NIHE and last, but not least, thanks to Sister Bernadine of Grainne House.
CHARLIE McGARRY
Rosemount House, Belfast
