Senator Ronan Mullen has slammed the abortion exclusion zone bill, which could even forbid criticism of abortion practices near hospitals, saying the legislation “flirts with fascism.”
The comments were made during a debate on the so-called “Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021,” which seeks to create exclusion zones which ban protest, prayer or even verbal criticism of abortion near to venues where abortions are carried out.
Section 3 of the legislation states:
(1) While in a safe access zone established under section 2 of this Act, a person must not:
(a) express or demonstrate support for or opposition to a person’s decision to access … or facilitate the provision of termination of pregnancy services or contraceptive services;
Mullen argued that this “was so restrictive of free speech” that if two people in a hospital coffee shop were discussing abortion, and one person casually mentioned their opposition to abortion, and it was overheard, this could potentially be considered a criminal offence.
“That would fall under the definition of what this Bill attempts to prohibit,” he said.
“An innocent conversation, even if it is overheard, where one person would express a sincere opinion. Even if one said innocently and respectfully that one wishes abortions were not being carried out in a hospital because innocent lives are being lost, and even if that was only overheard, that could be a criminal act as this Bill is worded.”
Mullen went on to discuss the unprecedented nature of the legislation.
“There is a massive disrespect for civil liberties, the right to free expression and the right to dissent at work in this Bill,” he said.
“…I have to say that this Bill flirts with fascism because it seeks to criminalise respectful free speech in a way that no legislation that has ever come before these House has attempted to do to my knowledge.”
“Hear, hear,” added Senator Sharon Keogan, signalling her agreement.
Mullen said he was not exaggerating the position, but added “I wish I were.” He referenced previous comments by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, who said that the current laws in place were sufficient to deal with unsavoury activity outside abortion clinics,
Existing laws adequate to deal with abortion protests, says Garda commissioner https://t.co/u97Zzv5zFx
— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) September 26, 2019
The Garda Commissioner also added that the police had not received any reports of objectionable activity requiring new legislation.
“Therefore, this legislation proceeds from a desire to crush dissent; nothing else,” said Mullen.
As Gript established previously, not one maternity hospital in Ireland that we contacted reported a formal complaint from any member of staff or patient regarding pro-life prayer demonstrations.
We reached out to the groups after a Gript investigation found no evidence that the repeated claim was actually true.https://t.co/3UPAv51yOU
— gript (@griptmedia) January 13, 2022