DCU’s Sinn Féin youth does not have the same stance on abortion as Sinn Féin, according to the society’s chairperson.
The youth believe that abortion should be made free, safe and legal to all, whereas Sinn Féin believes it should be made available under certain stipulations.
“The youth and Sinn Féin don’t share the same opinion on the matter.”
“Basically we believe that it’s important that abortions are free, safe, legal and we want to rally, young members especially, back into their local cumann and really kind of promote abortions that are free, safe and legal for all women,” said Aaron Ó Ruairc, chairperson of Sinn Féin youth in DCU.
Sinn Féin youth invited members of the Abortion Rights Campaign (ARC), the organisers of the March for Choice in September, to talk about abortion law in Ireland to the society members last Thursday.
“We need to practice having conversations about repeal. Trying to move your own party forward is very commendable,” said a representative from ARC.
O’Rourke invited ARC to prepare the delegates for the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis in November so that they can argue their beliefs to the party in the hope of changing the policy on the Eighth Amendment.
Sinn Fein did not take part in the recent March for Choice because they said ‘it goes beyond party’s position’.
“The march went beyond the party position. We are in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment. However, our position [on what provisions will replace the current prohibition] does not go as far as the rally organisers,” a spokesperson for the party said after the march in September.
Sinn Fein’s policy on abortion states: ““Sinn Féin wants to . . . enact legislation ensuring safe access to abortions for women in cases of rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormality.”
Shauna Bowers
Image Credit: Mark Carroll