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Irish MP apologises for grabbing female colleague Irish MP apologises for grabbing female colleague
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An Irish MP from the ruling Fine Gael party has issued an apology for pulling a female colleague on to his lap during the marathon debate on introducing limited abortion into the country. An Irish MP from the ruling Fine Gael party has apologised for pulling a female colleague on to his lap during the marathon debate on introducing limited abortion into the country.
Fine Gael Teachta Dála (Dáil member) Tom Barry described his own behaviour during the discussions in the Dáil, which lasted until the early hours of Thursday morning, as "disrespectful and inappropriate". Teachta Dála (Dáil member) Tom Barry described his behaviour during the discussions in the Irish parliament, which lasted until the early hours of Thursday morning, as "disrespectful and inappropriate".
Live footage of the debate captured Barry pulling fellow Fine Gael TD Aine Collins on to his lap around 3am on Thursday morning. Live footage of the debate showed Barry pulling fellow Fine Gael TD Áine Collins on to his lap around 3am on Thursday.
Despite the gravity of the subject being debated, Fine Gael sources initially dismissed the incident as "horseplay". But later Barry, a TD for Cork North East, issued his apology. Despite the gravity of the subject being debated, party sources initially dismissed the incident as "horseplay". But later Barry, a TD for Cork North East, issued his apology.
"I have apologised to Aine Collins and she graciously and immediately accepted my apology. No excuses. I just shouldn't have done it," Barry said in a statement issued through the party's main press office on Thursday. "I have apologised to Áine Collins and she graciously and immediately accepted my apology. No excuses. I just shouldn't have done it," Barry said in a statement issued through the party's main press office on Thursday.
The Fine Gael-Labour party coalition is on course to win the two-day debate that will end later on Thursday with limited legal abortion being introduced into Ireland for the first time in its history.The Fine Gael-Labour party coalition is on course to win the two-day debate that will end later on Thursday with limited legal abortion being introduced into Ireland for the first time in its history.
In the early hours of the morning the coalition defeated two amendments to the Protection of Life in Pregnancy Bill – one from an anti-abortion TD, the other from a pro-choice member of the Dáil. In the early hours of the morning the coalition defeated two amendments to the protection of life in pregnancy bill – one from an anti-abortion TD, the other from a pro-choice member of the Dáil.
The first government victory shot down Amendment 8, which would have deleted the suicide clause in the legislation. The bill will allow for abortions if a woman is suicidal due to an unwanted pregnancy. The first government victory shot down amendment 8, which would have deleted the suicide clause in the legislation. The bill will allow for abortions if a woman is suicidal due to an unwanted pregnancy.
A second Amendment 10 was proposed to extend the law to allow for abortions in the case of fatal foetal abnormalities – for women whose babies would be born dead if they gave birth – but this too was defeated by the votes of government TDs. A second amendment, 10, was proposed to extend the law to allow for abortions in the case of fatal foetal abnormalities – for women whose babies would be born dead if they gave birth – but this too was defeated by the votes of government TDs.
The debate on the bill had been due to end at 10pm on Wednesday night but because there were 165 amendments to the legislation the discussion in the Irish parliament was adjourned at 5am on Wednesday morning and will now be expected to resume at 4pm. Only 11 of the 165 amendments have been disposed of so far. The bill's debate had been due to end at 10pm on Wednesday night but because there were 165 amendments the discussion was adjourned at 5am on Thursday and will now be expected to resume at 4pm. Only 11 of the 165 amendments have been disposed of so far.
Fianna Fáil, the main opposition party, described the overnight debate as a "shambles" but Ireland's minister for children, Frances Fitzgerald, defended the long sitting. Fianna Fáil, the main opposition party, described the overnight debate as a "shambles", but Ireland's minister for children, Frances Fitzgerald, defended the long sitting.
The Labour Party TD said it was "extremely difficult" to judge the report stage and a judgment call was made at midnight that it would need several more hours. The Labour TD said it was extremely difficult to judge the report stage and a judgment call was made at midnight that it would need several more hours.
"Then the debate developed and developed, more and more people contributed and there is no limit on how long people can speak for on report stage," she told RTÉ Radio."Then the debate developed and developed, more and more people contributed and there is no limit on how long people can speak for on report stage," she told RTÉ Radio.
It was an "excellent debate" with "extremely high quality" and a "large attendance", she said. But her party was faced with some internal opposition as TD Michael McNamara voted with independent leftwing Dáil members to try and push forward the amendment on fatal foetal abnormalities. McNamara said his vote did not mean he opposed coalition with Fine Gael.
But her party was faced with some internal opposition as Labour TD Michael McNamara voted with independent left wing TDs to try and push forward an amendment allowing for abortions in the case of fatal foetal abnormalities. McNamara on Thursday insisted that his siding with the left opposition did not mean he opposed coalition with Fine Gael.
Both ruling parties refused to allow for a free vote on the legislation and in the main successfully "whipped" their Dáil deputies to hold the government's line.Both ruling parties refused to allow for a free vote on the legislation and in the main successfully "whipped" their Dáil deputies to hold the government's line.
Ireland's near total ban on abortion became the focus of international protests last year after the death of Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar in a Galway hospital. Her husband Praveen said they both requested an emergency termination after her body suffered septic shock, but were refused an abortion by medical staff on the grounds that they detected a foetal heartbeat. Ireland's near-total ban on abortion became the focus of international protests last year after the death of the Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar in a Galway hospital. Her husband said they both requested an emergency termination because of septic shock, but were refused an abortion by medical staff on the grounds that they detected a foetal heartbeat.
An international pro-choice organisation, the Centre for Reproductive Rights, based in New York, said on Wednesday evening that while Ireland was taking an important step towards clarifying the legal criteria for abortion, the parliament and government have kept the law extremely narrow in scope. On Wednesday, an international pro-choice organisation, the Centre for Reproductive Rights, based in New York, said that while Ireland was taking an important step towards clarifying the legal criteria for abortion, the parliament and government have kept the law extremely narrow in scope.
Lilian Sepulveda, the director of the centre's global legal programme, said: "As currently written, Ireland's abortion law will do nothing to help women who seek to end their pregnancies for many other reasons besides a threat to their lives. This includes women who are pregnant due to rape or incest, who are carrying foetuses with severe impairments and who face other serious risks to their health." Lilian Sepúlveda, the director of the centre's global legal programme, said: "As currently written, Ireland's abortion law will do nothing to help women who seek to end their pregnancies for many other reasons besides a threat to their lives. This includes women who are pregnant due to rape or incest, who are carrying foetuses with severe impairments and who face other serious risks to their health."
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