Precious Life welcome news of Judicial Review on referendum on the eighth amendment

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Precious Life welcome news of Judicial Review to allow Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland to vote in referendum on the eighth amendment

Northern Ireland’s leading pro-life group Precious Life welcome the recent announcement that a Judicial Review has been lodged at the High Court in Dublin aimed at allowing people in Northern Ireland a vote in the forthcoming referendum on Eighth Amendment.

A decision is expected next month. A statement from Belfast-based solicitors Madden & Finucane said the challenge was being brought forward due to the failure of the Irish state to allow citizens living in Northern Ireland a vote in the referendum. Michael Halleron, solicitor with Madden & Finucane, said: "This is a matter of national importance and all citizens on the island of Ireland should be entitled to vote in the upcoming referendum." A vote on whether or not to repeal the Eighth Amendment of the Irish Constitution - which recognises the equal right to life of the mother and unborn child - is due to be held before the end of May. As it stands, those with an Irish Passport but do not live in the Republic of Ireland, are not entitled to vote because they do not take up residence there.

Bernadette Smyth, Director of Precious Life, welcomed the news, calling it “a positive advancement.” She commented, “By allowing Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland to exercise their constitutional right to vote in this referendum, Irish citizens here would have a very welcome opportunity to stand up and vote to retain the most fundamental right of all – that is, the human right to life. Many people here believe that it is unjust that as Irish people, they have no right to vote in a referendum which would remove the right to life from our constitution.” Precious Life are now on standby to launch a province-wide Save the 8th Campaign here in the North if Irish citizens here are indeed granted a right to vote in the upcoming referendum. The campaign would help galvanise support for Ireland's eighth amendment by talking to voters door-to-door in the weeks leading up to the referendum, canvassing for a no vote and assisting our Southern counterparts as much as possible.

Precious Life also said that they are delighted and overwhelmed by the turnout of those from Northern Ireland at Saturday's Rally for Life in Dublin City Centre. The historic event saw crowds estimated at over 100,000 take to the streets demanding the eighth amendment to the constitution be saved. Bernadette Smyth said, "This was an incredibly important and special day for the people across Ireland - we here in the North had a chance to stand in solidarity with the people all across this country to celebrate life and Ireland's truly life-saving eighth amendment. We are delighted that so many people from Northern Ireland travelled to Dublin on Saturday to be a voice for our unborn brothers and sisters across Ireland. It is very clear that the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland see the eighth amendment as a beacon of real human rights, progression and compassion, and we are incredibly proud of our pro-life laws both North and South."

 

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