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SIPA USA / PA Images
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IF YOU HAVE ever had an abortion or been affected by any tragedy relating to pregnancy, you probably shouldn’t bother looking up the Claire Byrne Live Referendum Special on RTÉ Player.
On the ‘Yes’ side of the panel, there was Orla O’Connor, co-director of Together For Yes.
RTÉ
RTÉ
It’s an emotive issue. It’s a sensitive issue. But what’s really important in terms of this referendum is that we recognise the reality. The reality is that abortion exists. Abortion happens. And abortion happens for 3,000 women who travel every year. And abortion happens for women who are taking abortion pills at home on their own, in secrecy, afraid to go to their doctors because of the Eighth Amendment.
We need to put an end to this situation that has caused so much distress and devastation to families in every town, city and village in Ireland.
On the ‘No’ side, there was Maria Steen from the Iona Institute.
RTÉ
RTÉ
Where we’re divided, I think is on whether we should remove the only right, that the child in the womb has, from our constitution in order to allow politicians to pass laws to allow for abortion. That’s the fundamental difference between us. The legal profession and the medical profession, like the rest of the country are both divided down the country on this one – why? Because it’s not just a legal issue or a medical issue. It’s a moral issue. Do you think it’s OK to kill an unborn child?
RTÉ
RTÉ
Dr. Peter Boylan, also on the ‘Yes’ side, began his first question by pointing out the fact both Claire Byrne and Maria Steen had said that the Eighth Amendment “gives rights to the fetus”, but had omitted the fact that it equates the right to life of a fetus to the right to life of a woman.
That’s part of the problem, “the equal right to life”. Mothers have been denied the right to life, and the right to their health, as a consequence of the Eighth Amendment. I don’t think there’s any question about that. Maria said that the medical profession is divided equally on the matter, and that’s incorrect. When the Institute of Gynecologists and Obstetricians were surveyed about the question, more than 80% voted in favour of removing the Eighth Amendment from the constitution because we see the impact of the Eighth Amendment on the care of women.
After this, Dr. Peter Boylan mentioned the death of Savita Halappanavar, and the audience could be heard laughing. It was incredibly disrespectful, and things did not get much better from that point onward.
I have to admit the laughter from some people in the audience tonight when Savita was mentioned on #CBLive was horrific, afford her and her family the dignity and respect in her death that they were all denied during her care in an Irish Hospital #togetherforyes#repealthe8th 💔
People were totally unhappy with the conduct of the audience during a debate that dealt with such a sensitive topic.
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That debate format and audience make-up means that someone who's been harmed by the 8th has endured 90 minutes of being retraumatised by a tirade of nasty comments and heckling. Who benefits from this?
— Naoise Falafel 🇵🇸 🇵🇸 🇵🇸 (@naoisefalafel) May 14, 2018
shameful, and disgusting. our children will be simultaneously puzzled and appalled at their callousness when clips of that are played on 2030's version of Reeling In The Years.
I'm a mother who had an illegal abortion. I'm a mother who nearly died from my most recent pregnancy. There is not a shred of consideration for us from many on #CBlive from many in studio. I can't even begin to describe the sickening hurt. Think RTE should provide a support line.
— Sinéad Redmond @sineadredmond@mastodon.ie (@sineadredmond) May 14, 2018
So many people shocked and disgusted by the behaviour of the No side tonight. No compassion or love shown at all. I imagine RTE will be flooded with complaints over how it was handled this evening.
I was in the audience tonight. Not one ordinary woman affected by the 8th got a chance to speak. The doctors did & lawyers too. The no side treated it like a kind of sick pantomime. It’s our lives, our health on the line yet not one woman hurt by the 8th given a chance. #cblive
Agree. The rowdy No audience started jeering loudly the moment he started to speak on that circus of a show. All the recent attempts too by the No camaign to smear him clearly indicate he is being targeted. They fear his medical expertise on the topic. #CBLive#Together4Yes
Ourselves and @disabled_choice are currently in tears outside #CBLive. What is really clear is that our lives as disabled women don't matter in this country. We are 68% of maternal deaths. We should matter. We need to be #Together4Yes, for our health and our lives.
— People with Disabilities Together for Yes (@PWDTogether4Yes) May 14, 2018
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People weren't impressed with the behaviour of the audience on Claire Byrne's live referendum debate
IF YOU HAVE ever had an abortion or been affected by any tragedy relating to pregnancy, you probably shouldn’t bother looking up the Claire Byrne Live Referendum Special on RTÉ Player.
On the ‘Yes’ side of the panel, there was Orla O’Connor, co-director of Together For Yes.
On the ‘No’ side, there was Maria Steen from the Iona Institute.
Dr. Peter Boylan, also on the ‘Yes’ side, began his first question by pointing out the fact both Claire Byrne and Maria Steen had said that the Eighth Amendment “gives rights to the fetus”, but had omitted the fact that it equates the right to life of a fetus to the right to life of a woman.
After this, Dr. Peter Boylan mentioned the death of Savita Halappanavar, and the audience could be heard laughing. It was incredibly disrespectful, and things did not get much better from that point onward.
People were totally unhappy with the conduct of the audience during a debate that dealt with such a sensitive topic.
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love both Repeal the eighth amendment together for yes