Chai Brady
Maeve O'Hanlon
Photo: ABC News The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) have said they remain “resolutely determined” to protect the right of citizens to hold demonstrations outside abortion clinics as the Minister for Health continues to pursue legislation that would make it illegal.
The pro-life group said that Minister Simon Harris has invited a select group of Oireachtas members to a progress briefing on his plans to introduce legislation on ‘Safe Access Zones’.
Proportionate
Spokesperson Maeve O’Hanlon said: “The Pro Life Campaign remains resolutely determined to protect the rights of citizens to engage in peaceful and proportionate witness to the value of unborn human life and the presentation of alternatives to abortion to any woman who may be considering it.
“It has always been our position, however, that this can and should be done while demonstrating a clear sensitivity to the circumstances which some women may find themselves in.”
She said that the PLC reject the premise that if they’re against ‘safe access zones’ they support unsafe access to abortion providers.
Legislation
Ms O’Hanlon added: “The fact that the Minister’s preferred description has moved from ‘Exclusion Zones’ to ‘Safe Access Zones’ also serves to highlight the fact that an attempt is being made to present the proposed legislation in more palatable language while the substance remains essentially the same.
“Our very existence as a human rights-based organisation is to advocate for the meaningful protection of life, both born and unborn in as respectful and constructive a manner as possible.”