{"id":293882,"date":"2023-06-28T08:39:59","date_gmt":"2023-06-28T13:39:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=293882"},"modified":"2023-06-27T15:39:48","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T20:39:48","slug":"irelands-abortion-exclusion-zones-draconian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/irelands-abortion-exclusion-zones-draconian\/","title":{"rendered":"Ireland’s ‘Abortion Exclusion Zones’ law would have draconian implications for pro-lifers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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According to The Journal, a Safe Access Zones Bill<\/a> was approved Tuesday in Ireland’s National Parliament (Oireachtas), which “will prohibit people from impeding access or trying to influence people’s decision in relation to pregnancy termination services within the ‘safe access zone’ of healthcare premises.” This zone is reportedly “100 meters from an entrance or exit to a premises where such services could be provided, such as GP Practices, Maternity Hospital, or Family Planning Clinics.”<\/p>\n

The Journal reported<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Speaking this afternoon, [Health] Minister [Stephen] Donnelly said: \u201cNobody should be harassed, insulted or intimidated in any way, or have their decision to access lawfully available healthcare services subject to attempted unsolicited influence by strangers.”<\/em><\/p>\n

In response, Pro Life Campaign spokesperson Eil\u00eds Mulroy stated in an emailed press release (emphasis added):<\/p>\n

At a time when the government\u2019s Hate Speech Bill has generated a widespread furore due to its feared chilling effect on freedom of expression, the government\u2019s proposed exclusion zone legislation would undoubtedly undermine fundamental rights of expression. In February 2022, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly acknowledged that \u2018we are pushing up against civil liberties when we do this<\/strong>.\u2019 Yet his Department has pushed on regardless with proposals which are overtly discriminatory as they single out a particular ethical worldview \u2013 a pro-life viewpoint \u2013 for censorship.<\/em><\/p>\n