TD Quits Sinn Féin Over Abortion Policy

22.06.2018

Offaly TD Carol Nolan has quit Sinn Féin after the party rejected a proposal to allow TDs a conscience vote on abortion. She said she no longer has a place in a party that does not respect the pro-life views of members. Deputy Nolan had been suspended for three months after she voted against the holding of the abortion referendum. She plans to stay on in the Dáil as an Independent TD.

Sinn Féin supported repealing the Eighth Amendment. Last weekend’s ard fheis voted to amend party policy so that its TDs can support legislation allowing for abortion up to 12 weeks. A second motion calling for Sinn Féin TDs to have a free vote on abortion like Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil was heavily rejected.

Deputy Nolan explained her decision to quit, saying, “I feel that as a pro-life republican woman that I no longer have a place in this party, which doesn’t recognise or show genuine respect for the pro-life views of members.

“It was disappointing that at the ard fheis ... the party’s delegates voted against the motion to allow members to have a conscience vote on the issue of abortion.”

Deputy Nolan said it was “unethical” to force TDs who are strongly opposed to abortion to vote against their conscience. She said TDs were responsible for the laws they enacted and “if a TD votes for abortion they are responsible for all abortions that happen in this State”. She said, “I cannot and will not support abortion and for that reason I have made a decision to leave Sinn Fein.”

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said she regretted Deputy Nolan’s resignation, saying it was “disappointing but not surprising”.

Irish Independent. June 20.