Members of the US Congress have written to Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny demanding that he halt any bid to legalize abortion in Ireland.
The group of 16 Republican and one Democrat congressmen have signed the letter, calling on Kenny to ensure that Ireland remains ‘staunchly pro-life’.
The Irish Examiner reports that the politicians told Kenny they were concerned that an expert group chosen by his Health Minister James Reilly to present a report on abortion included some who are ‘pro-choice’.
The report states that Minister Reilly established the group last January in the wake of a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that Ireland must give legislative effect to the 1992 Supreme Court judgment in the X Case which ruled that a woman was entitled to an abortion if her life was in danger as a result of her pregnancy.
It adds that the expert group is due to present its report shortly when it is expected to recommend either regulation or legislation. Minster Reilly will then bring that recommendation to Cabinet.
In the letter, the American politicians said: “A concern has been expressed to us that the composition of the expert group seems predisposed to issue recommendations that infringe on the right to life, rather than a simple clarification.
“The absence of experts of known pro-life views and the presence of some of known pro-abortion views were especially noted.”
The Irish Examiner reports that one of the signatures on the letter is that of Doug Lamborn, a Republican from Colorado Springs who was forced to apologize last year to President Obama after saying that working with him was like touching a ‘tar baby’.
The letter is also signed by Trent Franks, a Republican Congressman from Arizona, who earlier this year sought to push through legislation that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy in the District of Columbia.
The Examiner states that when the White House voiced opposition, Franks called Obama ‘the abortion president’.
The letter to Kenny from the 17 Congress members says: “Ireland has been an example to the world in not legislating for abortion.
“It is our hope Ireland remains staunchly pro-life and continues to give this vital example in Europe and throughout the world. We offer our strong support to you in this effort.”
The only Democrat to sign the letter is Dan Lipinski, from Chicago, who co-sponsored a bill to prevent women from obtaining abortions on health insurance unless they had been raped.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.EphraimKibbey | Sep 28, 2012, 12:46 AM EDT
CIARADEXY, you have a gift with words and you are making an old man blush! Thank you!
ciaradexy | Sep 26, 2012, 05:44 PM EDT
Perhaps Americans need to keep their noses out of Irish womens wombs?
rugbyplayer | Sep 26, 2012, 11:44 AM EDT
Those US busy bodies (aka US GOP Congressmen writing on their pro-life platform to Irish PM)should mind their own business. Ireland is NOT a US colony nor a Vatican Papal State!
bobby | Sep 26, 2012, 07:17 AM EDT
Since when did Ireland become a state of the U.S? Those Members of the US Congress, should focus on fixing the problems you have in America. You have enough of them.
EphraimKibbey | Sep 26, 2012, 01:37 AM EDT
I think it is obvious that these Americans have never met anyone of Irish descent. As if telling an Irishman that he CAN'T do something might actually prevent him from doing it. The Pro-Choice segment of the Irish population will probably use this in a campaign ad to increase their backers if it comes to a vote in Ireland. Note that many of these same politicians are the ones that were instramental in developing the "Kill the Gays" legislation in Africa. The wonders of the "C" street mind set: It is OK to kill gay people but you are a murderer if you kill a single-celled zygote. With cloning, we can now create a whole new individual from a single skin cell so I guess I am a mass murderer if I bash my knuckles working on my car's engine. Ridiculous, just ridiculous!!!!!
irismonkey48 | Sep 25, 2012, 08:19 PM EDT
OMG This is totally arrogant and inappropriate. I think Ireland can make its own decisions and I do not believe this should be a political issue. Thats between a person and their own religion.
Reilleyfam | Sep 25, 2012, 03:43 PM EDT
Let the Irish govern Ireland. You dont live there and you dont do a very good job of governing the country you do live in.
norinalundy | Sep 25, 2012, 11:31 AM EDT
How one feels about abortion is strictly personal, and by personal, I mean just that. Moreover, it is not the business of anyone in the USA, politician, clergy or otherwise. However, it is of paramount importance and a right that a woman have the final say over her own body when she is in danger of mental anguish or perhaps if she is in physical danger as in the case of a brutal rape. Obviously, this is not the case if she is giving birth to a child naturally and when it is safe, as it has been stated, that it is more than safe in Irish hospitals, but when she has been brutally raped and tortured and has to live with a child as a constant reminder of the trauma she has suffered and will no doubt suffer for the rest of her life. Only a man that has been raped can relate, but no man can comment on living with a child of said rape.
Mousemess | Sep 25, 2012, 09:46 AM EDT
Dona polaiteoiri Meiriceanaigh, deanaigi bhur ngno fein!!! To the American politicians, mind your own business!!!
steveoconnor | Sep 25, 2012, 08:47 AM EDT
Stay out if it. The irish people are sick of external conservative influence. The church has done enough damage here.
eiriamach | Sep 25, 2012, 06:02 AM EDT
It's ludicrous that anyone who writes about being "pro-life" can oppose abortion to save the lives of women. The proposed law would be life-saving when neither mother nor fetus would survive pregnancy without it. The proposed law has nothing to do with "recreational sex," but the woman haters commenting below insist on twisting it into a way of demonizing women and asserting their will to power over the lives of women and families.
eiriamach | Sep 25, 2012, 05:38 AM EDT
"Heute Deutschland, morgen die Welt!" Religious fanatics have flexed their muscle in the 'states, and their self-delusions grow apace with their lust for control over the lives of women, workers, and the poor. These members of the US Congress seem to think that the Taoiseach has powers to dictate laws to Dáil Éireann. Send them a copy of the Irish Constitution (not that they could read it if they tried).
MissOC | Sep 25, 2012, 03:39 AM EDT
I just read this story and could not believe the idiots in Congress that sent that letter. As an American it really embarrassed me, as an Irish-American, it really upset me, and as a woman it really pissed me off. It's bad enough they are trying to dictate what women can do with their bodies over here, now they want to try to dictate to Ireland what their women can do with their bodies. I hope the Prime Minister tell them to piss off!!
TayandCake | Sep 24, 2012, 10:33 PM EDT
They want to have a children's referendum yet legalize abortion, its sounds very unbalanced and bizarre. Abortion will come in though, the liberal do-gooders always get their way.
TayandCake | Sep 24, 2012, 10:07 PM EDT
The arrogance and gall of these politicians is only exceeded by "Mitt the Twitt" Romney. If he is elected president he will probably place and embargo on Ireland if they don't obey his commands. One would think that these asinine Americans would worry about the sorry state of affairs that Bush and his Republican Party have caused in the USA. Watch out the USA will come and overthrow the government to get at the Irish oil reserves now that they have caused a great upheaval in the east and may have problems with the oil supply there. Why don't they just mind their own business and let individuals make their own choices.
tundish45 | Sep 24, 2012, 06:34 PM EDT
Well, sure. These creeps haven't done damn-all in the US, so let them go legislate someplace else.
seanomelb | Sep 24, 2012, 06:27 PM EDT
P#@S off teabaggers you've destroyed your own country with fascist Christian policies. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
jacersagain | Sep 24, 2012, 06:26 PM EDT
NO, STEVENSTAR, WE IRISH CAN'T RUN OUR OWN AFFAIRS! That's already proven.
billie061 | Sep 24, 2012, 06:23 PM EDT
Who the hell do these people think they are demanding what we can do or not in our own country ? Get out but then again you are dealing with a wet rag like Kenny who would prefer to continue to export problem to U.K.
STEVENSTAR | Sep 24, 2012, 06:20 PM EDT
DO YE PEOPLE REALLY THINK WE IRISH WOULD ALLOW AMERICANS TO MEDDLE IN IRISH AFFAIRS OVER HERE IN IRELAND ? I DONT THINK SO ... THERE IS ENOUGH ANTI AMERICAN SENTIMENT OVER HERE IN EUROPE... WE IRISH CAN RUN OUR OWN AFFAIRS THANK YOU
Gearoid4 | Sep 24, 2012, 06:16 PM EDT
The pressure on Ireland to legislate in the area of abortion on the back of the Irish Supreme Court decision on the X Case, demonstrates how insidious the ideology of the pro-abortion is. Ireland statistically is one of the safest countries in the world for a woman to give birth to her child, and yet a demand is being made for abortion to be available in cases where a woman's health was in danger. Experts at a recent International Symposium held in Dublin, to discuss healthcare issues, unambiguously announced that " "direct abortion is not medically necessary to save the life of a mother.” So there you have it, if pro-abort do not relish this unbiased opinion of medical experts, then all they are left with is their unasavoury pro-abortion position, which is really nothing more than abortion on demand. Abortion is not a medical necessity as well as being morally indefensible.
jimgordo1 | Sep 24, 2012, 05:21 PM EDT
When will American politicians learn to keep their noses out of other people's business? If they are opposed to abortion, then let them write PERSONAL LETTERS to PM Kennedy, not abuse their office(s) by sending a petition undoubtedly on Congressional stationery and identifying themselves as U.S. Representatives. I'm opposed to abortion for ANY reason (BTW, that's my PERSONAL OPINION and I'm not interested in a pissing contest with those who are pro-choice) Those who are pro-choice are entitled to their opinion and I would hope eventually you will see the light.
mamaginnty | Sep 24, 2012, 05:14 PM EDT
Nicoletta, abortion at the moment is not allowed, so what is happening. The women are going over to Britain, book the clinic and are back home within 3 days. " women and childrens health flourishes " you say, what a load of godswallop. Rome would like you. These politicians have no right in telling our government what irish women should or should not do. None of thier friggin business.
aloistmartin | Sep 24, 2012, 05:11 PM EDT
Don`t let them have your Lunch Money, Prime Minister Kenny !
KatieMurphy | Sep 24, 2012, 04:54 PM EDT
ewhqatrs next - the repubs are doing the crooked hierarchy's business - trying to outlaw all forms of birth control..............As if they dont realize that too many children throws families into poverty. And that no Birth control meas more abortions and more botched abortions - as well as more STDS among all communities.................Does anyone remember how the pope a couple years ago told aFricans that (in effect) condoms cause AIDs. IN a continent where 23 million are infected, and 2 million have died in the past few years...............Esentially, the pope got his head handed to him...............There is a reason dogma is called DOGma
KatieMurphy | Sep 24, 2012, 04:24 PM EDT
Don't listen to those jerks, Mrs. Kenny. They do not represent the women of America, and have no business interfering with the women of other lands. We fully intend to vote them out and restore our rights to control our own bodies with our doctors.
jacersagain | Sep 24, 2012, 03:29 PM EDT
Don’t concerned men and women of countries all around the globe, including the USA, often plead to other countries to not execute a person but to grant a pardon or at least mitigate the sentence of death? I don’t see any difference from that in these American politicians pleading to save the lives of future unborn Irish.
gordongoblin | Sep 24, 2012, 02:47 PM EDT
The people already made their will known twice. We want legal abortion.
Happyhippo | Sep 24, 2012, 02:03 PM EDT
The law can only be changed by the consent of the people by referendum, the government, or those 17 congressmen would have no bearing on the outcome of a vote on abortion,that said there are a lot of like minded people in Ireland,mostly influenced by religious belief,but not all, the vast majority of which voted against abortion last time out,but most likely a lot closer now if a vote was taken.
Proud Canadian2 | Sep 24, 2012, 01:46 PM EDT
Will some one tell me when Ireland became a state? What right has the United States to tell them what to do? Holy moses the states are trying to tell the world what to do. Then they wonder why they are hated all over the world. Stay out of other countries business and mind your own, it not like the states don't have huge problems of their own.
Nicoletta | Sep 24, 2012, 01:37 PM EDT
Ireland, south and north, is a shining example of how women and children's health flourishes when abortion is not available. God help them if it is introduced.
SlanAgat | Sep 24, 2012, 12:53 PM EDT
I for one would not object if the Taoiseach declared these 17 meddling radicals persona non grata. It would pain me to keep them in the United States, but I'd love it if they were never allowed to set foot in Ireland.
mlchellus | Sep 24, 2012, 12:52 PM EDT
I'm American.....Are the US politicians paying Ireland's bills ......NO........The christian right nuts cases have no say in Ireland's domestic laws. Letter should have been marked 'Return to Sender - Not interested'.
CitizenWhy | Sep 24, 2012, 12:26 PM EDT
Another group feeling free to disrespect Irish sovereignty. First the Vatican, now these US imperialists.
NYCsheridan | Sep 24, 2012, 11:56 AM EDT
These radicals do not speak for us. They speak for a small segment of mostly Southern and Midwestern voters. And they certainly do not speak for American Catholics.
micky74007 | Sep 24, 2012, 11:49 AM EDT
Mr Kenny, tell them to stuff it. Our Congressmen cannot even govern the United States, yet they are telling you how to govern Ireland. What a bunch of balony!
AlanJBall | Sep 24, 2012, 11:49 AM EDT
Demand???.....Where are these idiots manufactured....is there a factory somewhere in the Nevada desert that churns these idiots out.Have they any idea how ridiculous it is to make such a demand....by all means have an opinion...voice it in the papers or on tv...But demand? Mind your own business...its not your call. PS. If the factory does exist, Have they made sure to break the Romney mould?....not a popular model....
lokionline | Sep 24, 2012, 11:36 AM EDT
What a case of sticking a nose in where it is not wanted.
kilkeekbt | Sep 24, 2012, 11:29 AM EDT
To jamieLM Excellent post! I am a product of 16 years of Catholic education (Dominicans and Mercies)and I feel the same way. While I would never consider an abortion or even birth control for myself I have no right to force those beliefs on others. It also seems to me that the majority of people who are against abortion of any kind are men! What does that say to you?
jamieLM | Sep 24, 2012, 10:50 AM EDT
As an RN in the NICU, we work very hard to keep the tiniest of babies alive. Speaking for myself, I find abortion repulsive, but no one appointed me to be the judge and jury of every woman's reproductive choices and their circumstances. I recognize that not everyone does, or has to, think the way I do. I don't promote abortion, but it's also not my job to "police" every woman in the world and to force my religious beliefs on anyone. Each of us is accountable for the decisions we make. As an American, I don't presume to tell the Irish how and what they should do about this issue. It's their business.
mikehoulihan | Sep 24, 2012, 10:27 AM EDT
Obama IS the abortion president. That can't be disputed. He's in the pocket of the abortion lobby like no other president. He's responsible for the death of millions of innocent children since his election.
mikehoulihan | Sep 24, 2012, 10:19 AM EDT
Abortion is national, cultural suicide. Ireland, like most of the rest of Europe, will disappear in this century, if abortion is promoted. Once a life has begun, no one has the "right" to terminate that life. Ireland will find itself on a slippery slope where anything will become possible. God save Ireland.
Eschetic | Sep 24, 2012, 10:06 AM EDT
The U.S. in the election coming up in November is fighting more than anything a plague of extremist right wing ideologues who want to turn our country into a theocracy reflecting their own minority views under the smoke screen of 'economic issues (and distorting them), and yet in the entire congress they could only muster 17 names (and the alarmist reporting only revealed two thoroughly discredited members among *them*) to presume to meddle in the hope of progressive Irish legislation. Most Americans (70% at last polling supported a basic Pro-Choice position) watch the Irish progress on this thorny issue with the greatest support and pride.
darao | Sep 24, 2012, 09:42 AM EDT
Actually it is due to the influences of Harry Potter lakeisle. At hogwarts they have good insight into the karma wizardry. Humanistic Buddhist philosophy would have no problem with abortion in general and be more focused on compassion for women and all beings. We should also be tolerant and let Ireland and the Irish decide on the issue without much input from outside the country especially from the political or religious communities or those who haven't been part of Irish life for decades.
lakeisle | Sep 24, 2012, 09:29 AM EDT
The soul (jiva) enters the body at conception according to his/her past karma. We didn't create our own bodies, or any other bodies, but they are vehicles created by material nature under the ultimate direction of the supreme being. In general, we don't have the right to purposefully kill others. Abortion (in almost all cases) is not the right (dharmic) thing to do, but it helps if we try to understand why not. A civilization with little spiritual background can have trouble understanding this. (See: Bhagavad Gita)
darao | Sep 24, 2012, 09:29 AM EDT
These extremist American politicians should mind their own business. They want to take away a woman's right to control her own body and have the neck to try to influence Irish legislation. On any major issue it is totally inappropriate for American politicians to lecture Irish people or anyone in other countries on legislative issues.