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Home , Charles Haughey, Cora Sherlock, David Quinn (columnist), Maria Steen, Peter Boylan, Together for Yes

2 The Sunday Times May 27, 2018 The Sunday Times May 27, 2018 3 NEWS ABORTION REFERENDUM NEWS The ‘no’ side did not budge — until the tide turned to ‘yes’

CHARLES McQUILLAN, MAX ROSSI, CLODAGH KILCOYNE NIALL CARSON, MAX ROSSI Spin doctor Tony Heffernan feels Global citizens head ‘yes’ side made better pitch to undecided while ‘no’ campaigners home to have their say BRYAN MEADE preached only to the converted Eithne Shortall Hazel Nolan got a Ryanair Stephen O’Brien Political Editor the eighth to cover the ‘hard cases’. It was voucher from her sister for a clever pitch because it would have had Christmas. The 20-year-old When Tony Heffernan, a public-affairs an appeal to people who wanted to UCD student, currently on consultant and former repeal the eighth but were anxious about an Erasmus year in Berlin, strategist, heard leading “no” campaign- the government’s proposed legislation. decided then that the present ers contemplating abortion in certain “Of course it was a bit rich of the ‘no’ would be kept until the time circumstances, he knew the campaign campaign because, if this had been came to vote. was slipping from their grip. defeated and the government came back “As soon as the date was A veteran of dozens of Workers’ Party, with a revised proposal, the same people announced I went straight Democratic Left and Labour Party would have been opposed to it still.” online and booked it,” said election and referendum campaigns, The former deputy government press Nolan, who flew home to Heffernan’s political antennae detected a officer had been impressed with for the weekend to strategic shift in message from Love Both, elements of the “no” campaign. Their key vote yes. Her sister, in Save the 8th and other anti-repealers media performers, such as London, did the same. with about a week left in the campaign. and , were very profes- “It’s going to be the most Leah Grant from Tramore returned from Spain to vote On RTE’s Today with Seán O’Rourke on sional and used studio airtime very well, important referendum of our May 17, Katie Ascough of the Love Both he thought. lifetime so we could not miss He cobbled together “a really people did try to vote and campaign acknowledged that the “no” Organisationally, the “no” side was it. There were people coming shoddy website” in an hour- they were over the 18 months campaign was meeting resistance on door- streets ahead of the “yes” lobby in the from a lot further than I did. and-a=half. It was called that there would be steps regarding the issue of abortion in early days, with thousands of posters It’s not even a two-hour flight GetTheBoatToVote.com. challenges to the result if it cases of rape and fatal foetal abnormality. going up around the country over the from Berlin, so I felt I couldn’t The initial intention was for was a tight ‘yes’,” said “I am not here to convince listeners Easter weekend at the beginning of April; just sit at home when it was a group of friends to take the Kavanagh. The Home to Vote that abortion in every circumstances is the “yes” posters did not appear until going on.” train and ferry from London campaigners in London were wrong,” Ascough said on the pro- two or three weeks later. But much of the Nolan wasn’t the only one. to Ireland, but the movement warning people who had gramme. “I have been canvassing on the “no” campaign — the posters and online Last week social media was quickly grew beyond England gone over the year-and-a=half doors and on the street, and I know material in particular — addressed their aside earlier reservations and would A campaigner flooded with photographs of and boats. limit to be aware of the rules. people are really wrestling with the hard core support and not the undecided now support the government’s 12-week weeps at a mural individuals and groups flying “I was getting emails from While the hashtag was very cases and some people want abortion voters who were struggling to under- abortion proposal. showing Savita home to cast their ballot. people in the States, people much a “yes” invention in the only for those hard cases.” stand the issues. Mairead McGuinness, her party col- Halappanavar, Voters returned from as far as came from Australia, so to 2015 referendum campaign, A day later, , a Fianna “I was doubtful about the approach of league and MEP, issued a statement above, whose death Los Angeles, Sydney and try to reflect the way people “no” voters also made the Fail TD for Galway East, told The Irish the ‘no’ campaign — it seemed to me that supporting repeal of the eighth. Fianna during pregnancy in Bangkok, while there were so were travelling we changed journey home this time. Times she did not share the view that the vast majority of their posters were Fail backbencher James Lawless said that an Irish hospital is many Repeal garments on it to Home to Vote in the last Sarah Gillespie, also a UCD abortions should be prohibited in all aimed at their own base, aimed at people his personal pro-life view remained seen as a catalyst certain London flights, they couple of weeks,” said student, voted no on Friday. circumstances. Rabbitte, who opposed who were already firmly convinced on unchanged but he could no longer force for the campaign to looked like they’d been Kavanagh. “The flights She was on a semester abroad abortion up to 12 weeks at the this issue,” said Heffernan. that view on others. repeal the eighth. chartered by the “yes” side. booked out and that seems to in Pennsylvania when the committee on the eighth, said an amend- “Both sides had research that showed Heffernan said the decision of Fianna Nolan flew home with two have happened even sooner referendum date was ment to the constitution to allow for roughly 35% were convinced ‘yes’, 35% Fail leader Micheál Martin to take a stand addressed a rally friends also studying in this time around.” announced. She had these cases should be the proposition convinced ‘no’ and 30% in the middle, against the position of the majority of outside the count Berlin. “There were a lot of It’s impossible to tell just intended to stay in America before the people, not the blanket repeal and I think the ‘yes’ campaign made his parliamentary party “took a degree of at Dublin Castle, other people in Repeal how many people came until next month to speak to of the section. more of a pitch for that middle ground Pro-choice amendment Eamon Ó Cuív, a former deputy leader 87% of the citizens’ assembly backed courage” and was a significant develop- promising to move jumpers and wearing badges, home to vote, or what role people about doing a PhD Last Tuesday, Éamon Ó Cuív, another than the ‘no’ side did until the very end, campaigners predicted by exit of Fianna Fail, objected to the role of the repeal of the eighth amendment, The ment before the campaign proper got legislation on who we just got talking to. this cohort played in after her degree, but felt it Fianna Fail TD, argued that a “no” vote where they almost pivoted from being celebrate for polls would be citizens’ assembly just as he had opposed result of the referendum is not 87% to under way. abortion before the There are a lot of repealing the eighth was more important to come would not prevent the issue of abortion Save the 8th to Amend the 8th. And, like ‘yes’ outside the borne out by the Kenny’s use of its forerunner, the consti- 13%. It hasn’t been hugely successful for Despite forecasts of a close-fought bat- end of the year in Berlin anyway, and they amendment, but the Home to home to and have in hard cases — such as pregnancy in the Yes Equality campaign [for same-sex count at Dublin referendum tutional convention, which laid the mirroring what the people will do in a tle over abortion legislation this autumn, were all going home for the Vote hashtag was used twice her say. She knows other instances of rape or fatal foetal abnormal- marriage], the personal stories — of Castle, once it result across groundwork for same-sex marriage. “We referendum.” Ó Cuív said there was no doubt the gov- same reason,” she said. as often on Twitter in the “no” voters who made the ities — being revisited again after the women who had fatal foetal abnormali- was clear the almost the whole have a citizens’ assembly and we call it Ó Cuív said while “no” campaign post- ernment would have the numbers in the The Home to Vote week before this referendum journey home. current campaign. ties or major health fears — made a large majority country; left, Dail Eireann,” he said. “It started back in ers may have been erected first, the Dail and Seanad to get an act through. movement began on social compared with the seven Gillespie believes the On Wednesday night on TV3, Declan huge impact.” for the repeal a car decorated 1919 and is still there. It is a much more “yes” campaign had “more money and “The government has a massive major- media in the run-up to the days ahead of the 2015 vote. Home to Vote movement Ganley, a businessman and a campaigner For Heffernan, however, the process of of the eighth for ‘yes’ accurate reflection of what people think. more party involvement and way, way ity in favour of what it is proposing, it is marriage equality Officially, Irish citizens are could have had an impact on with Save the 8th, predicted the govern- convening a citizens’ assembly last year “Long before abortion came on the more posters nationally than the ‘no’ obvious to anybody who is watching it referendum in 2015, when entitled to vote only if they overall turnout. “It does raise ment would return to the people with a and passing its report onto an all-party agenda, I disagreed with the citizens’ campaign”. how the figures swing there,” he said. hordes of Irish people, have been gone from the publicity and hopefully proposal for abortion in more limited Oireachtas committee, which made assembly approach. I am not challenging If the “no” campaign’s change of “And that won’t be the end of it. It will many of whom were living country for less than 18 shows people at home that cases if repeal of the eighth was rejected. recommendations to government, was the integrity of how it was conducted, it’s strategy was one indication of the elect- come back in terms of more and more or studying in England, months. In practice, not people are travelling so far to As Heffernan said: “It seemed to me an approach that worked. , the process itself that is wrong. oral tide, a shift in the position of some liberalisation in the years that follow; travelled back to vote. Joey everyone adheres to this rule vote, so [encourages] people they decided last week that the thing was then the , was accused of “If you go to a public meeting, you’ll senior political figures over the past week Solidarity/PBP and deputies like Clare Kavanagh had been in and voters are under no who are only a few minutes going down and ‘save the eighth’ wasn’t “kicking the can down the road” by many hear 10 or 15 people talking at a max, even was another. , the Daly and Mick Wallace have already London for less than a year obligation to prove current down the road from the striking a chord with people, so they who have since played prominent roles in if there’s 400 people in the room. They business, enterprise and innovation signalled that is where they want to go.” when the marriage equality residency. “This time there polling station to get up and switched to the possibility of amending the “yes” campaign. are the ones who are listened to. While minister, last week revealed she had set @sob999 referendum was announced. was a real concern that if out and vote,” she said. Being pro-life doesn’t make me a knuckle-dragger From Miss X to Savita: the troubled

Of all the opinions I’ve ever activists, I believe abortion view. But no one wants to be importance of resisting peer majority of the movement has Connors, who spoke out history of the eighth amendment LARISSA expressed — and there have hurts women more than it called a freak and that’s why pressure. been intolerant and about being pro-life, said he EAMONN FARRELL been a few — nothing has benefits them, and is a many I know who voted no What all this feels like to a ostracising, making those on had never experienced such a Justine McCarthy the Dublin Well Woman situation. The Protection of NOLAN provoked such contempt and modern exploitation forced did not talk about it. “no” voter is that, for many the “no” side, who could have volume of racism as a result. Centre. The High Court issued Life during Pregnancy Act in condescension as my upon us by societal attitudes You become an instant on the repeal bandwagon, the been open to having their He said he’d been called: In a newspaper interview an injunction prohibiting the 2013 was passed following the identifying as “pro-life”. As a and pressures. social activist if you wear a issue has moved beyond the minds changed, more “Knacker, pikey, backward in April 1994, Brendan agencies from assisting death of Savita Halappanavar, woman of childbearing age, I hope, as 19th-century badge saying “yes”, or throw rights or wrongs of the eighth ingrained in their positions. Traveller man . . . [These are] Comiskey, then the Catholic women to travel abroad for a 31-year-old dentist, from living in the capital city, suffragist Sarah F Norton said, on a macabre-looking black amendment, and has veered Sincere and brilliant human rights activists? bishop of Ferns, recalled abortions, or giving them sepsis in University Hospital he tribal instinct to working in an industry that is that “perhaps a day will come sweatshirt with the word into an identity politics war. repealers such as Really?” being summoned in 1982 by contact information for Galway. She had been refused belong is equally one evidently overwhelmingly when an unmarried woman REPEAL in white capitals. Even the politicians sang from and Nell McCafferty were And when marriage Charles Haughey to foreign abortion services. an abortion while her to exclude, a pro-repeal, I am a pariah, a will not be despised because There are even more points the politically correct hymn outnumbered by judgmental referendum campaigner Rory Abbeville, the taoiseach’s Spuc also successfully sued treatment was delayed. mentality that’s heretic — I am the enemy. of her motherhood”. I trust for virtue and social-media sheet, with minister Simon fanatics with no concern for O’Neill — aka Panti Bliss — said mansion on Dublin’s three student unions in 1990, In June 2013, Amanda apparent only when The prejudice of the women, I just don’t trust My view likes if you dress your kids in Harris getting all offended at strategy who took the tolerance would be the way to northside. Haughey relying on the eighth Mellet and her husband, you’re the one so-called left-liberal social engineering. them. the use of the term “abortion approach of “you’re either win over the undecideds, he materialised in a silk dressing amendment. James, won a ruling from the standing outside the movement assumes I must be As Norton’s colleague is not But saying you’re not in on demand” and the pretend with us or against us”. was mocked for his advice gown, drew a piece of folded Two years later, the case UN Human Rights Committee pack. in the grip of the Catholic Susan B Anthony said: “No their tribe means you have to notion that the “no” side was Social media was flooded with bigoted comments paper from its breast pocket, of a pregnant girl brought that Ireland had inflicted TThis referendum has made church when in fact I’m matter what the motive, it will extremist or explain yourself, justify your “trivialising” mental health. with moral-posturing posts including: “Patriarchy from a and thrust it towards the before the courts made trauma and distress by me nostalgic for the days of non-religious. They think I’m burden her conscience in life position, only to be Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that descended quickly into man in a dress.” bishop. “I hope that makes international headlines. forcing her to leave the true liberalism, which a privileged conservative and her soul in death, but authoritarian harangued, alienated and made it a gender battle, the abusive, from the threat of The abortion referendum your lot happy,” he said. Miss X was 14 when the country for an abortion in respects diversity of opinion. when I’m a working-class thrice guilty are those who demonised. This is an saying that a “no” vote would “We’re going to torch the was similar to the last US On the paper was written Supreme Court overturned Britain after receiving a foetal I long for the times when we hippie; and anti-woman, drove her to the desperation.” at all — it’s invasion of conscience. Most “send the wrong message to place if this doesn’t pass” to presidential election and the wording of the proposed an injunction prohibiting her An anti-abortion protester diagnosis of Edwards encouraged free thought and when I’m a feminist. It’s hard enough to have people haven’t the time or women.” Which women? the sinister, McCarthyite Brexit: the elites versus the eighth amendment to the from leaving the country to for the eighth in 1983 syndrome, a fatal condition. people weren’t labelled a My view is not extremist or the courage of your perfectly energy for it; I’m an exception Women who voted yes, warning: “Be wary of men non-elites. What democracy constitution. “A sneak have an abortion. Niall The following year, a “knuckle-dragger” for authoritarian at all, it’s convictions when the entire because I enjoy confrontation he meant. who have been silent on this decided is the right answer preview” was how Comiskey McCarthy, one of the judges, large part of her expected young asylum seeker known rejecting the forced ideology perfectly reasonable. Like all political class, establishment reasonable and I am zealous about the Instead of being inclusive issue.” Talk about absolutists. for the nation. Now let’s end viewed the wording, which said the failure by the baby’s brain was missing. as , who said she had of self-elected moral arbiters. the original women’s rights and media are against your right to free speech and the and persuasive, the vast Traveller and actor John this civil war. would go on to overshadow Oireachtas to introduce The HSE tried to stop her been kidnapped and raped the law courts, the Dail and legislation after the 1983 travelling to the UK for an in her home country, Ireland’s pregnant women referendum was abortion but the High Court discovered she was pregnant. Richard Keane, a former and girls for 35 years. “inexcusable”. said she had the right to go. She sought a termination on Activists abortion rights officer with As health minister in 1979, While politicians still Next came the cases of A, B suicide grounds but, instead, Focus of abortion reform now moves north of the border the Irish Family Planning Haughey had introduced refrained from legislating, and C in the European Court a baby was delivered by Association in the 1990s, the Health (Family Planning) two referendum proposals of Human Rights. The three caesarean section. She is Martin Fletcher The province never consultant whether and how government, is the barrier to the abortion ban. Sinn Fein unforgiving light on the celebrate reminisced with Cliona Act, allowing for the sale to succeeded in November 1992, women had undergone suing the state. Her solicitor, adopted the 1967 Abortion many times she wanted her change. Founded by the late and the SDLP have dropped inhumane treatment of Saidlear of the Rape Crisis married couples of allowing women to travel abortions abroad for different Caoimhe Haughey, is a niece Four years ago Ashleigh Act, which legalised baby resuscitated at birth. “I Rev , it fiercely their opposition to reform. women in as world Network, about the old days contraceptives by abroad for abortions and reasons. In December 2010, of the former taoiseach. Totley, 31, a human resources abortions in the rest of the would just go home and sob,” opposed the opening of a The Supreme Court is by default.” of the reform struggle when prescription. The law was upholding the right to the court found A and B’s Before 2014 was out, officer from Craigavon, was UK. It still implements the she said. Four years ago Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast considering whether the ban Kellie O’Dowd, co- “the most difficult thing was necessitated by a Supreme disseminate information rights had not been violated another court case had been told her 20-week-old foetus sections of the 1861 Offences yesterday, the baby was in 2012. Four years later, the breaches the European chairwoman of the Alliance watches to get 10 people into a room Court ruling that married about foreign abortion because, it said, Irish law was triggered by the eighth had a form of dwarfism called Against the Person Act that stillborn. The vote to repeal party defeated amendments Convention on Human for Choice, said: “It will put to even talk about abortion”. people were entitled to services. Voters rejected a “legitimately trying to protect amendment. NP, a 27-year- thanatophoric dysplasia. Its make it a crime, punishable in the Republic gave her in the Northern Ireland Rights, with a ruling soon. huge pressure on Northern With “no” posters still privacy in family planning third proposal, for the public morals”. In the case of old mother of two, had been ribcage was so narrow that its by life imprisonment, to cause to celebrate as well as assembly to permit abortions A Sky News poll last month Ireland to provide warning about killing babies matters. removal of the risk of self- C, who had unintentionally declared clinically dead after lungs could not develop. It administer “any poison or grieve. “It’s exciting times,” in cases of rape, incest or showed 54% support in reproductive healthcare at →Continued from page 1 with beating hearts on the Following America’s destruction as grounds for become pregnant while in suffering a brain trauma when would suffocate at birth — if it other noxious thing” or “use she said. “We are on the cusp foetal abnormalities. Northern Ireland for home, and highlight us as the from CBS in America, ABC in lampposts out on the street, liberalising Roe v Wade abortion, which the Supreme remission from cancer, the she was 15 weeks’ pregnant lived that long. any instrument” to induce a of the change that people By banning abortions, unrestricted access to most repressive regime in Australia, the Huffington anti-repeal campaigners were judgment on abortion, a Court allowed in the X case. court said there had been a but she was kept on somatic After much agonising she miscarriage. The sole have been fighting for. The Northern Ireland exports abortion up to 12 weeks. western Europe.” Post, the BBC and Sky, ARD in remarkably absent. group of “family values” In 1997, a second raped, threat to her life, which support in an attempt to keep and her husband decided to exceptions are when a present situation in Northern them instead. Hundreds of Last June, the government Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty , Al Jazeera, the Los One veteran did turn up in advocates feared the same pregnant girl was brought meant an abortion was legally the foetus alive. Doctors terminate the pregnancy woman’s life, or mental or Ireland is shameful. I hope women — at least 724 in 2016 stopped charging Northern International’s Northern Angeles Times, and news the RDS. Richard Greene, would happen in Ireland. The before the courts. Miss C was permissible in Ireland feared that removing her life because, she said, the baby physical health, is at risk. the vote will put pressure on alone — travel to England Ireland women for abortions Ireland programme director, organisations in France, New chairman of the Alliance for Pro-Life Amendment 13 and adjudged suicidal due but the state had failed to support might violate the would be “born to die”. Her Ashleigh had to carry her Northern Ireland to get in line each year, sometimes in the in England. In March, the UN said: “There’s already huge Zealand, Germany, the Defence of the Family and Campaign was founded in to the pregnancy. The High adopt legislation providing eighth amendment. When doctor refused. That is baby to term. For 15 weeks with the rest of Europe and most harrowing committee on the elimination momentum for change. The Switzerland, Belgium and Marriage, blamed the media 1981 and lobbied the main Court ruled that the Eastern for it. The court told Ireland her father applied to the High because, with the possible she had to endure the start giving women the circumstances. of discrimination against ‘yes’ vote will turbo-charge Denmark. for the defeat of the “no” political parties during the Health Board could arrange it should legislate for the Court to have it switched off, exception of Malta, Northern congratulations of well- dignity and essential health But the tide was turning women said the ban was a that debate and ask why we Orla O’Connor, another campaign. second 1982 general election, for her to travel to Britain for the court acquiesced. Ireland has the most meaning strangers who saw care they deserve.” even before Friday’s Irish denial of women’s rights that have such regressive abortion leader, said “It is a constant when Haughey’s Fianna Fail an abortion against her In 2016, when Enda Kenny, draconian abortion laws in her bump, attend prenatal The DUP, whose 10 MPs vote. Opinion polls show led to “horrific situations”. laws. It may be that women she had an indication early brainwashing by the lost power. The new Fine parents’ wishes. as taoiseach, announced western Europe. clinics and discuss with a prop up Theresa May’s strong support for relaxing Last month Belfast city from Northern Ireland can on Friday that something newspapers,” he said. “The Gael-Labour government, , as taoiseach the establishment of a council called for the now travel to the Republic [to seismic was under way. As politicians go with what the led by Garret FitzGerald, in 2002, called another citizens’ assembly to consider decriminalisation of abortion obtain abortions] but the she dropped her ballot into media want and we can’t get adopted Haughey’s proposed referendum proposing to the repeal of article 40.3.3, pills when a mother was principle remains — women the box at Ballyogan, the two anyone elected with our wording. On September 7, remove suicide as a grounds An asylum many saw it as a ruse to avoid ANY SECTIONS If your paper is incomplete we will send you FIND US ON: charged after purchasing are being forced to travel, and women at the desk had given viewpoint.” The badge in his 1983, almost 67% of voters for abortion but allowing for dealing with a toxic political MISSING? the missing section(s) subject to availability. them for her 15-year-old unable to get treatment by her crossed-fingers salutes. lapel said “love both”. approved its insertion into terminations when there was seeker topic. Telephone 00 44 20 7711 1521 or email your daughter, who was in an their own GPs in their own The size of the revolution Katherine Zappone, the the Irish constitution. a threat to a woman’s life. It The assembly’s report, details to: customerservices@sunday- abusive relationship. hospitals, and that’s not became apparent early in the children’s minister, recalled The wording soon proved was defeated, with 50.4% sought a published in April 2017, led to times.ie with Missing in the subject. Pro-choice campaigners acceptable.” count. A box of votes on arriving in Ireland from problematic as family against and 49.6% in favour. three months of deliberations are hoping the Irish vote will The DUP said: “Our Lower Rathmines Road in America soon after the 1983 planning counsellors tried to Five years later, another termination by a special Oireachtas IRISH LOTTO Results from the Irish LOTTO LOTTO LOTTO shame the government into position on abortion will not Dublin contained 67 “nos” referendum. “I felt the Irish help women with crisis teenager came to court. committee. Its report became RESULTS National Lottery draw PLUS 1 PLUS 2 action, even at the risk of change despite the vote. We and 444 “yeses”. Someone were such justice seekers, pregnancies. In 1988, the was 17 and happily on suicide the basis for the proposed law held on May 26, 2018 6, 15, 22, 30, 39, 45 7, 17, 23, 32, 33, 38 1, 3, 6, 8, 29, 47 alienating its DUP supporters. are a pro-life party.” called out that Cahersiveen in who looked for your freedom Society for the Protection of pregnant until she received the government published Bonus 16 Bonus 11 Bonus 11 Stella Creasy, a Labour MP, Kerry was “yes”. Roscommon with that mix of spirituality. the Unborn Child (Spuc) sued a diagnosis of foetal grounds in tandem with the said: “It will shine a stark and Newton Emerson, page 16 was heading the same way. All that is there today.” Open Door Counselling and anencephaly, meaning a referendum campaign. 14 The Sunday Times October 29, 2017 COMMENT

ESTABLISHED 1822 Larissa Nolan Spain turns a Catalan The gig is up for drama into a crisis tragically hip Leo wo months ago the eyes of the Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, the coun- world were on Barcelona try’s deputy prime minister, to be in because of the terrorist attack charge of the region. The chief of that killed 14 people and injured Catalonia’s autonomous police force — more than 100 others. The under investigation for sedition for failing people of Barcelona and Spain to assist the Guardia Civil in dealing with Taoiseach should ditch the trendy music bandwagon if he wants real kudos came together in solidarity. Now pro-independence protesters — was all is discord. removed from office. Madrid has ordered he year was 1996: Britpop was at its interested enough the first time around to go rock stars might blow up in his face. When the TAn impulsive and premature push for regional elections for December 21. height, Cool Britannia ruled the waves, and see them. former prime minister hosted a gin-and-tonic independence by the region’s political The reasons for Catalonia’s push for and here in Ireland a 17-year-old named They’ve a lot in common, Leo Varadkar and reception for Damon Albarn in the House of leaders, coupled with a clumsy and independence can be debated. It is one of Leo Varadkar joined . LCD frontman James Murphy. Both are kings of Commons in the mid-90s, a sceptical Campbell unnecessarily hardline response from the Spain’s most successful and prosperous Neuroscience suggests the music we spin. LCD Soundsystem pulled off the music PR asked the Blur singer: “What if you turn around listen to as teenagers has the strongest coup of the decade — breaking-up in 2011 in a and say: ‘Tony’s a wanker’?” Spanish government in Madrid, has given regions but the recession, the eurozone influence on us, and it seems that our dramatic, extended farewell that included a Music lovers have little regard for those who Spain its biggest constitutional crisis in crisis and arguments about the distribu- first “indie” taoiseach is no exception. final show and a documentary, before re- feign a passionate interest in certain bands the 42 years since the death of the dictator tion of tax proceeds have poured petrol TLeo’s entry into politics came during a heady forming with seemingly indecent haste just to make themselves look cool. I’m not saying General Francisco Franco. on the flames. Now it faces the economic era when musicians hung out with prime over four years later. There are plenty of bands Leo doesn’t like music at all; I just think he’s Although the pressures and tensions consequences of this constitutional crisis. ministers, in what felt like a revolution. At the who’d call that a rest between records, but the pretending to like it a lot more than he actually Brit Awards, Noel Gallagher dedicated one of hype meant a number one album and a sold- does in order to fit his image as our young, hip have been building for years, the crisis has Nearly 1,700 companies have taken steps Oasis’s wins to , saying: “He’s the out reunion tour. Genuine or not, it was a leader. It won’t wash. It’s an appropriation and unfolded in the space of a month. On to move their headquarters from Catalo- man!” It was an intoxicating time to come of masterful publicity stunt. an insult. October 1, in a referendum that Madrid nia to other parts of Spain since the refer- age, and we teens in the bland land of Bertie So while LCD members Nancy Whang and Al Separately, there’s a growing society of fakes insisted was illegal, 90% of those who endum. Visitor numbers are down. and Bruton were happy to be swept up in it. Doyle were more than happy to court their at gigs lately, brandishing iPhones, more voted supported Catalonian independ- During the Cold War the Soviet Blair’s strategy must have impressed the liberal activist fans with “Resist” and “Repeal” concerned with boasting to their Facebook ence. It did not provide a mandate for threat held western European countries young Leo, given that as taoiseach he has been sloganeering, they turned on Leo when he friends about being there rather than actually aligning himself with the biggest names in rock went backstage for a meet-and-greet facilitated enjoying it. They’ll buy into anything if they’re independence — many Catalonians who together and fears of past dictatorship and showcasing a hip taste in music to modern by the promoters. They seemingly decided told it’s fashionable. Real music fans don’t feel oppose it chose not to vote and the turn- moderated behaviour at home. But the voters. Now it’s his turn to hang out with Noel they were not going to be seen cosying up to a the need to seek approval for something as out was only 43% — but it set a trap that , while it has offered no Gallagher, as he did last summer at a lengthy politician — especially one as neo-liberal as natural as going to a gig, and they hold back on Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s prime minister, succour to supporters of Catalan inde- lunch at Bono’s house. Blair turned out to be — even if the taoiseach is the hyperbole. They’re confident in their own and his government were quick to fall into. pendence, has a mission to weaken the In two decades of being around the Dublin a friend of beloved Canadian premier Justin choices. To me, the taoiseach’s gig choices If history tells us anything, it is that power of the nation state. This makes it music scene, I never saw Leo Varadkar. Now Trudeau, who made the cover of American were too cherry-picked to show an all-round I can’t seem to go out without bumping into magazine Rolling Stone under the headline: passion for the art. democratic governments which deal too easier for breakaway movements to him. It’s like I’ve accidentally fallen into the Why Can’t He Be Our President? If Leo really enjoys music, he should resist harshly with breakaway movements will contemplate separation. Brussels has taoiseach’s social circle. But it’s no accident — Or maybe they were too cool to be in selfies the temptation to be seen at St Vincent, or The increase support for them. The cause of now had a partial deathbed repentance; I’m a big music fan, and Leo seems to be trying with Paschal Donohue, who looks like the class XX, or whatever the current millennial favourite Irish nationalism was helped hugely its officials can observe Flemish separa- to get on board the bandwagon of my favourite nerd, as real music fans often do. is. He’d impress far more by showing up next more than century ago by the decision of tism by looking out of their windows. groups. He’s been hanging out at Electric Blair’s spindoctor Alastair Campbell could month to see Gilbert O’Sullivan, our own Picnic with wristbands up to his elbow, and have warned Leo about how hanging out with musical genius who was a huge influence on the British government to execute the While Carles Puigdemont, the deposed showing up in wraparound sunglasses to all the Morrissey. Or he could go to see the Waterboys, leaders of the of 1916, having Catalan president, overplayed his hand, key outdoor gigs. He knows that music today is inventors of the “big music”, a sound and delayed home rule. Many Catalans who coercion by Madrid can never be a all about lifestyle, identity, wearing your taste vision that inspired a generation of American were lukewarm at best about independ- long-term solution. There has to be a as a badge, appealing to a certain set. rockers. ence were turned towards the cause by grown-up discussion about the areas in The music snob in me was irritated to see He could use his status to give a leg-up to the brutal treatment inflicted on their which greater autonomy is possible and him at the Pixies gig in Trinity College in July, emerging Irish talent such as Farah Elle, or cheerleading for a band I’ve been evangelical to support unsung heroes like Jinx Lennon. fellow citizens by Spanish police. The desirable, what in a Scottish context about since I was 13. It felt a bit like someone Now, that would really be appreciated. Just be sight of local firefighters trying to protect would be called “devo-max”. Most Cata- trying to steal your clothes. It seemed odd that sincere about it, Leo. Be yourself and lead, not people from police truncheons, in images lans would probably be happy with that. Leo has only revealed his long-time love of the follow. sent around the world, was a disaster. After all, it was what they were promised Pixies (formed 1986) in recent years, just when The taoiseach should also think twice before That brutality has been followed by the five years ago. they finally became mainstream cool. He has flashing a VIP pass to get close to the latest cool tweeted about discovering them when he rock band in a bid for muso kudos. He was hardest of hard lines by the Spanish Is a grown-up outcome possible? heard their song Where Is My Mind? on the lucky that even music fans, though suspicious government. On Friday it dismissed Cata- Cooler heads are needed to stop this crisis Fight Club movie soundtrack. Real music fans of his true motives, sided with the taoiseach lonia’s political leaders and appointed getting much worse before it gets better. More galling was the knowledge that he got when LCD Soundsystem attacked him publicly backstage to meet Frank Black. So both Leo don’t feel the on the assumption that Leo didn’t agree with and I have a photo of ourselves with the lead their political views on repealing the eighth singer of the Pixies, although it took me 16 need to seek amendment. years of fandom. I believe the taoiseach doesn’t But the jig is up now, and he won’t get away like Arcade Fire, which is a relief — at least approval for with it a second time. He might look back to True cost of tracker scandal is something’s sacred. when he started in politics, and consider It was no surprise to see him at LCD something as how that Britpop association ended with Blair. Soundsystem in the Olympia last month. The Because ultimately musicians want to get price paid in human misery right-on New Yorkers are the hottest hipster natural as going behind revolutionaries, not be part of the ticket on the live circuit since they got back establishment. together, especially among those who weren’t to a concert Justine McCarthy is away Too often, controversies such as the the final figure could be as high as 30,000 tracker scandal simmer away in the back- accounts. Michael D’Arcy, the junior ground, present in our collective subcon- finance minister, said the government scious without the full horror of the might remove the role of consumer human misery they conceal quite dawn- protection from the Central Bank. Mr ing upon us. We have known for several Donohoe and Mr Coveney said it would years that the pillar banks deprived some not, as no outside agency would have the Conor Brady people of tracker mortgage rates, much- same powers. prized interest charges pegged closely to Mr Donohoe appeared genuinely to be the prevailing lending rate of the Euro- horrified last week at the behaviour of the pean Central Bank, but few noticed the banks and decried their use of dehuman- Halawa had to be saved, scale of the suffering caused. ising language, referring to ‘“customers’”, This national naivety was shattered ‘“consumers’” and ‘“accounts”, instead when the Central Bank of Ireland revealed of seeing the victims of their malpractice findings from a two-year examination of as ‘“people’”. Yet, no more than the Cen- but he was reckless the problem, and when four victims of tral Bank, the finance minister has limited this financial abuse gave moving personal tools to curb or punish abuse. The Central testimony to the Oireachtas committee on Bank’s powers to order compensation finance. For example, Thomas Ryan said and redress payments apply only to track- he suffered a stroke at the age of 47 and his ers denied after 2013. In earlier cases it wife Claire had a nervous breakdown in must rely on moral pressure, which has If all Irish citizens flirted with extremism abroad, we’d run out of resources 2015 after five years fighting their bank, had little impact on bankers up to now. Mr Permanent TSB (PTSB). Independent Donohoe may delay the restoration of financial advisers estimated the differ- bonuses and higher pay scales to senior t one point in 2015, in the second year Declaration of Human Rights. Even after his soldiers had killed almost 900 people. “We ence in interest costs between the correct banking executives, but this will not put a of Ibrahim Halawa’s imprisonment in acquittal, he was kept in prison for a further only fear Allah, not bullets,” Omaima Halawa Egypt, Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan month. Anyone who has taken a longer-term wrote on Facebook at the time. There is no tracker rate for Hazel Melbourne, another roof back over the heads of the 25 families asked rhetorically whether the Irish interest in Egypt’s human rights record will suggestion of involvement in violence, but PTSB customer, and the incorrect rate the who lost their homes. He may increase the government would be doing more to not, however, be greatly surprised. Amnesty Ibrahim and possibly some of the other family bank applied to her, would be in excess of bank levy on a particular institution but secure his release if his name was International’s most recent report on the members had attended successive €60,000 over the remaining term of her we know the customer will ultimately pick Paddy Murphy. It was widely country, in 2016, detailed sweeping detentions, demonstrations since their arrival in Egypt. mortgage if not put right. up the tab anyway. understood that she was reflecting mass trials, arbitrary arrests, torture, ill- Critics of the Irish authorities’ inability to the feelings of members of Halawa’s family and treatment and summary executions. Many of have one of their citizens freed have asked why About 7,000 cases were identified by If the share price is damaged by this A many of his friends among the Muslim those who fall into the hands of the security one of Halawa’s cell-mates, Australian the banks before the Central Bank began scandal, or by the cost of putting it right in community here. forces simply disappear. By such obscene journalist Peter Greste, was released so much its examination in December 2015. Its the banks where the government holds a The comment was unwarranted and standards, Ibrahim Halawa might even be earlier. Probably because although convicted review identified a further 13,000 cases. significant or a majority share, the tax- uninformed. We now know that almost from considered lucky. of reporting news which was “damaging to The review was supposed to take three payer will ultimately carry that cost too. the moment that 17-year-old Ibrahim was Yet, possibly to support his safe return, an national security”, Greste was doing his job months, but has taken 22 so far and is still But financial cost pales alongside the detained by Egyptian security forces along with almost wholly unquestioning public narrative and was not challenging the regime. his older sisters, during violent clashes in was built up around his case. This had the There is not much to choose between the going. The government has not been human price caused by the wrongful with- Cairo, Irish diplomats and officials were Halawa siblings caught up more or less brutal dictatorship that now rules Egypt and speaking with one voice on this issue. drawal and denial of tracker mortgage striving to secure their release. As soon as they unwittingly extreme violence while on the Muslim Brotherhood with its involvement , the finance minister, rates to thousands of Irish families, in became aware that Irish citizens were in the Al vacation. This was not the case. They were not in terrorism, its anti-Semitism and its has confined himself to commenting on what has been a stark reminder of the Fateh mosque — where shots were being simply passive tourists who found themselves aggressive fundamentalism. It “tries to the 20,000 cases we know about. Simon anguish that can lie behind your exchanged with the security forces — the Irish in the wrong place at the wrong time. participate in politics ... but is willing to use ambassador to Egypt, Isolde Moylan, and the The date of their detention — August 16, 2013 violence and terror,” according to a UK Coveney, the foreign affairs minister, said neighbour’s front door. consul Sean Norton were working the phones — had been designated as a “Day of Rage” by commission of inquiry in 2014. Perhaps it is a to have them extricated. They advised the the extremist Muslim Brotherhood, protesting bit like Sinn Fein and the IRA. Halawa siblings to stay together and to stop against violence by the security forces. The There is no suggestion that Ibrahim Halawa giving interviews. Halawas were no neophytes. They had spoken sits anywhere on this spectrum. Like most In the four years and two months since, the on a public platform at a mass meeting in young men, he has ideals and aims, including Damning verdict on TV trial Halawa case has occupied the energies of two Rabaa where, two days previously, police and political aims. And every Irish citizen must be taoisigh, three ministers for foreign affairs, up glad he has been freed and is reunited with his to a dozen diplomats, and any number of family and can rebuild his life. But it is officials across various government necessary to be frank. Even allowing for his If it was someone’s intention to stifle any when only the most learned of friends departments. According to , the youth, he put himself recklessly and knowingly public enthusiasm for televised court would have been anything other than current foreign affairs minister, it took up in the way of grave danger, in public proceedings, then last week’s decision to mystified by last week’s judgments in 20,000 consular hours, more than any other association with an extremist movement. open the Supreme Court to the cameras cases involving extradition and redress. case in the history of his department. In There was an outcry when emergency parallel, public opinion mobilised to a degree services had to be deployed because idiots was a stroke of genius. Anyone hoping for Why not open with a criminal trial, per- probably never before witnessed in support of were out swimming and surfing during an OJ Simpson-style courtroom drama haps, or a compensation case in which the an Irish citizen in trouble abroad, with He put himself Hurricane Ophelia. The Halawa episode is will have been abruptly disabused by injured plaintiff was suddenly confronted demonstrations, expressions of support from different only in the scale of resources that had the spectacle. with Facebook images of his recent kite- elected representatives, petitions on social knowingly in to be mobilised. If every Irish citizen were to It was surely with his tongue firmly in surfing exploits? Instead, the sight of five media and extensive news coverage. act in similar fashion abroad, requiring the his cheek that chief justice bewigged judges perorating on points of By any civilised standard, the case of the way of state to mount a rescue operation of similar Ibrahim Halawa is shocking. His detention for proportions, public patience would not suggested televising the Supreme Court law will surely have silenced any demand more than four years without being convicted grave danger long endure. could “demystify” the judicial process, for televised courts for at least a decade. of any crime violates article 9 of the Universal [email protected] The Sunday Times May 13, 2018 15 COMMENT Larissa Nolan Nobody gets turned on by rules and regulations

n the supermarket recently, Toni Braxton’s You’re Makin’ Me High came on, one of the sexiest songs of all time. The shopping list instantly disappeared from my head as I thought of how sex is the most thrilling thing on earth, an immensely pleasurable way for Ihuman beings to transcend our innate loneliness through physical love. So why is modern society trying to turn it into a clinical procedure? Why are we swapping passion and spontaneity for rules and regulations? Is sex really so dangerous that we must sacrifice trust and vulnerability? We know rape and assault are horrendous crimes, and perpetrators must face justice. That’s self-evident. But the panic around sexual activity risks portraying it as a negative, risky, even dangerous thing, used by men to control and possess women. The heterophobic narrative that women are constantly at risk from predatory men is becoming a mainstream view and risks damaging intimacy. It is puritanism repackaged as progressiveness. It is driven by fear, with the underlying principle being that all women are potential victims and all men potential rapists. It forgets that sex is not forced upon women; we Buy prints or signed copies of Morten Morland’s cartoons from our Print Gallery at timescartoons.co.uk love it and pursue it. Those who point this out risk being dismissed as a rape apologist or victim blamer, even if they are some of the greatest female minds of our day, such as Camille Paglia and Germaine Greer. QUOTES Paglia is furious at this return to the imprisoning of women, only this time they are imprisoning themselves. “My OF THE WEEK generation said, ‘Give us the freedom to risk rape,’” she has pointed out. Widening definitions of sexual “They are procreating Hard case of pro-life like there’s no tomorrow” Mary Howard, a Clare councillor, reveals that Ennis has a problem with goats side being cut dead It seems men must keep asking ‘is this “The US no longer makes Media stand by as the repeal campaign manipulates the conversation empty threats” OK?’ and ‘can President Donald Trump withdraws America from omewhere along the way, Peter campaigners are concentrating almost shows have broadcast interviews with I do that?’ as the Iran nuclear agreement Boylan has been turned into the exclusively on the hard cases such as rape women who have carried terminally ill unofficial doctor to the nation. and fatal foetal abnormalities. Yet these babies to birth, and others who opted for the deed Boylan is the chairman of the cases constitute only a fraction of all the abortion, and then pass this off as balance. Institute of Obstetricians and abortions that take place around the world, But it’s not, because it is still all about the progresses Gynaecologists and a former and that would take place in Ireland under hard cases and this reinforces the pro-choice master of the National Maternity the proposed law. The vast majority of narrative. Most listeners will think: “Well, harassment enable almost all women “It could be my sister, it Hospital on Holles Street. He has a abortions take place on the healthy babies of you can choose to have the baby, or choose to claim to be victims, increasing the Ssmooth and plausible manner that sets you healthy women. not to, and everyone should get to make the statistics and assisting those who aim could be one of my friends at ease, as plenty of medics do. It is therefore entirely misleading of the choice that suits them best.” to control attitudes and behaviours. who has young children” Other doctors are every bit as “yes” campaign to concentrate so much on How often has RTE shown an image of the Rape has been broadened out to Leo Varadkar, the taoiseach, gets emotional experienced as , and have also the hard cases — but clearly they calculate baby in the womb, say at 12 weeks, when include all bad, or regretted-after-the- about the cervical smear test scandal delivered thousands of babies. There is this is the best way to win votes. reporting on the referendum? I can’t think of event, sex. More worryingly, women Dr Eamon McGuinness, for example, and To this end they are aided and abetted a single instance. This is remarkable. It are encouraged to redefine previous Professor John Bonar, Dr Trevor Hayes and by large sections of the Irish media would be like having a debate about the experiences as rape or assault. This is Dr John Monaghan. Any one of these could which also focus on the hard cases. Pro-life rights of Travellers without ever showing a all harmful, and risks trivialising sex be invited on to radio and television or be campaigners at press conferences and on picture of a Traveller. crimes in the public perception. As the quoted in print as often as Boylan. They radio and TV shows are continually asked Most of the mainstream media has Irish author Ella Whelan asks in her could be given the same ultra-soft interviews about them. rendered the unborn child invisible, even book What Women Want: “How are and be treated with the same extreme Pro-choice campaigners are also asked though we are voting on its constitutional women to be taken seriously when “We are terminating deference. Strangely, they are not. about these exceptional cases, and must be rights. This airbrushing suits the repeal side. something really serious happens?” our partnership” To me, the reason for this is simple: delighted not to be asked about what the Given that they support a law that would The “no means no” motto served us European Broadcasting Union strips Chinese TV they are all in favour of retaining the planned law will really permit. Various radio permit thousands of unborn children well, but now women are deemed of rights to show the Eurovision Song Contest eighth amendment, whereas Boylan is to be killed in the womb, why would incapable of speaking up when they after it censored gay love story in the Irish entry strongly pro-choice. they want the public to see images of what don’t want sex. If this truly is The strength of Boylan’s allegiance to the is to be eliminated? widespread, we require assertiveness pro-choice position was made clear at last The pro-life campaigners have been trying classes for all women, now. year’s hearings of the Oireachtas committee to work their way around this problem by Some of today’s feminists suggest on the eighth amendment. He was asked the showing the images directly to the public via there should be formal negotiations following question by Fine Gael’s Peter posters and online videos. However, now we for sex. Roe McDermott, an Irish Times Fitzpatrick: “Does Dr Boylan [acting as an have Google, which owns YouTube, making columnist, thinks “asking for consent” “I’m dying when I don’t obstetrician] believe he has two patients, the this task even more difficult. Google, with its will soon feel like a natural part of the unborn and the mother, or does he believe semi-monopolistic power, says it has fears act. “We need to rid ourselves of the need to die” he has one patient?” for the “electoral integrity” of the campaign idea that the language of consent is Emma Mhic Mhathúna, a mother of five, has been Boylan responded: “When a woman opts if it permits referendum ads, so it has only about preventing rape, and is too given a terminal diagnosis of cervical cancer to continue with a pregnancy, then we have banned them all. The “yes” activists are formal to be used naturally during sex. despite previous results that said she was healthy two patients whom we have to take care of delighted. Of course they are. They don’t It isn’t,” she argued. during the course of a pregnancy.” want the public hearing any message but Such “affirmative consent” policies That is about as starkly pro-choice a their own. suggest that women aren’t able to say statement as you can get. To me, it is not a The result is that Google itself has no, and that sex could be rape without medical position, more like a philosophical blatantly interfered in the integrity of the explicit consent. In such a stultifying one. As a matter of simple scientific fact, campaign. It is now its chief violator, and environment, it seems men must keep whenever a pregnant woman presents members of the political establishment are asking “is this OK?” and “can I do herself to a doctor, that doctor has two cheering it on because they want the “yes” that?” or “are you still comfortable?” patients: the woman and the unborn child in side to win. That feels like a stitch-up. as the deed progresses. As though her womb. To suggest there are two patients A democracy is supposed to be about free women were not autonomous adults. only “when a woman opts to continue with a and fair elections. When one side struggles Some feminists still insist they are pregnancy” defies this very basic fact. It says to reach the wider public with its message, pro-sex, and approve of no-strings the woman must first choose to continue Google itself is an election cannot by definition be fair, and hook-ups with strangers chosen for with the pregnancy, and must want the baby, therefore is not properly democratic. how they look on a dating app. But this before the doctor regards himself or herself chief violator, The Irish public are hearing about the is part of a process pushing us towards as having two patients. hard cases all the time. They are not yet emotionless, robotic sex which does Nothing better expresses the pro-choice and the hearing that the vast majority of abortions away with intimacy, is zero fun, and is position. It categorically refuses to accept are not about these very rare cases, and are soulless and soul-destroying, no that the unborn child is a bearer of rights political not even about healthcare, strictly speaking. matter how free you believe you are. purely by virtue of being human. The mainstream media, therefore, have an Think of the last time you had great Note also that Boylan, in his statement of establishment absolute duty over the next 12 days to make sex: it wasn’t like that. It involved trust philosophy, says nothing about the hard sure both sides are heard properly. and a certain amount of vulnerability. cases. The woman and her unborn child is cheering it Only in this way will newspapers, radio What about tumbling into bed with might be perfectly healthy, but this is beside and TV stations prove that those of us who wild abandon after a night out, ripping the point. For Boylan, it seems, two patients on. That feels are on the pro-life side do not have to rely off clothes and risking all for passion? exist only when the woman says so. exclusively on social media to get our It’s the best thing about life. Let’s not However, outside of Oireachtas meeting like a stitch-up message out. be brainwashed into trading it for an rooms, many prominent pro-choice [email protected] insemination process.