Petition to All Irish Senators
Senators: Ireland says No to 'Exclusion Zones', Yes to Freedom of Expression!
Senators: Ireland says No to 'Exclusion Zones', Yes to Freedom of Expression!
PETITION UPDATE (12/20/2023)
After an entire hour and five minutes on Thursday of last week, the Seanad agreed to allow the so-called 'Safe Access Zones' Bill to pass to Committee Stage which means that this atrocious piece of totalitarian legislation is all-but-certain to become law in the new year.
As Senator Rónán Mullen said during his speaking time in the "debate": "This is disgraceful legislation."
And, so it is. Along with the so-called 'Hate Speech' Bill, Irish politicians seem to be in a frenzy to cement themselves in Oireachtas history as delivering the most repressive, totalitarian legislation, ever.
They have become what they always mocked and so thoroughly said they despised: little despots.
With the courageous exceptions of the aforementioned Senator Rónán Mullen and Senator Sharon Keoghan, who eloquently spoke against this monsterous legislation, ALL other Senators voiced support for this egregious bill.
Taken from the Oireachtas website, here is a list of Senators who shamefully spoke in favour of this totalitarian legislation:
Frances Black (Independent)
Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fáil)
Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fáil)
Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fáil)
Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
Emer Currie (Fine Gael)
Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael)
Pauline O'Reilly (Green)
Lynn Boylan (Sinn Féin)
Paul Gavan (Sinn Féin)
Annie Hoey (Labour)
As the bill has not yet passed, please continue to sign this petition. But, at the same time, please know that the chances of this legislation becoming law are, regrettably, quite high. Let us hope and pray that good amendments, protecting the freedoms of expression, conscience and religion, can be introduced and agreed to during Committee Stage.
Oireactas "Debate" on this Bill, 14 December 2023 - https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/seanad/2023-12-14/15/?highlight%5B0%5D=safe&highlight%5B1%5D=access&highlight%5B2%5D=zones
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It seems very convenient that the Seanad is scheduled to debate the so-called "Safe Access Zones" Bill (aka 'Exclusion Zone' Bill) as the very last item of business before they recess for Christmas on Thursday of this week.
This Bill has huge ramifications for the freedoms of expression, thought and religion for all Irish people because if the Oireachtas passes this repressive and regressive Bill in respect of pro-life sentiment and action now, it will provide any future Government the precedent to likewise suppress speech or action related to any other topic they oppose.
That is the very definition of totalitarianism!
And yet, for a bill of this magnitude, the Seanad are only giving two hours for debate this Thursday!
That's why we're calling on every freedom-loving person in Ireland to SIGN and SHARE this urgent petition which will go to ALL IRISH SENATORS, and which will tell them to act now to reject this dangerous, totalitarian proposal.
Depending on the interpretation of this Bill, private conversations, any pro-life activity including pro-life rallies and vigils, and even pro-life prayer, silent or otherwise, could be deemed illegal.
This is beyond the pale of comprehension.
While the Irish people did vote for abortion in 2018, they did not vote to suppress the freedoms of expression, thought and religion in respect of a huge swathe of Irish society who are pro-life.
And, many Irish people who support abortion, today, are still against this blatantly totalitarian proposal because they see what has happened in other countries which have already passed similar legislation.
In places like Britain and Ulster (via Westminster), people have already been arrested for simply praying (silently, in some cases) outside abortion centres.
Please SIGN and SHARE this petition which calls on the Seanad to reject the so-called 'Safe Access Zones' Bill.
Not to be outdone by the British, our Irish bill goes even further, as it also provides power to the Gardaí to look into the future, if they believe someone may be about to engage in a prohibited practice, and to warn said person that they risk arrest if they proceed with their intention of carrying out a prohibited act.
Also, because the exclusion zones (aka "safe zones") will, theoretically, comprise wide swathes of the city centres of Ireland, this bill could, if interpreted thus, also clamp down on respectful, peaceful public protest.
For example, it is unclear whether the Rally for Life or the March for Life, which have attracted tens of thousands people, will be able to navigate their way around the exclusion zones in Dublin City Centre, or, indeed, if it is physically possible to do so.
Please SIGN against this repressive, authoritarian bill, today!
Senators know that they are the last defence against the reckless excesses of the Dáil.
But, if this bill passes, the freedoms of expression and of the right to public assembly for ALL people living in Ireland will be massively diminished.
As well as that, the open marketplace of ideas in a democracy could be crushed in relation to pro-life expression. Also, more unborn lives will be lost and more women will be hurt by abortion.
Taken together, therefore, all of our Irish Senators should be able to see that this authoritarian bill is repugnant to the freedoms enshrined in the Irish Constitution, and should, therefore, vote to reject it...even if they are not personally pro-life.
Please speak up now for your freedoms of expression, conscience, thought and religion. Freedom-lovers of Ireland: Together, we can give Irish Senators the confidence they need to firmly oppose and reject this harmful bill.
Thank you for SIGNING and SHARING this urgent petition which will be sent to ALL Irish Senators, telling them to reject this threat to so many of our cherished freedoms.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Ireland votes for abortion clinic buffer zones - https://catholicherald.co.uk/ireland-votes-for-abortion-clinic-buffer-zones/
Pro-Life Campaign Twitter Post showing the extent to which Dublin City Centre could be off-limits to pro-life expression depending on the interpretation of this authoritarian bill - https://twitter.com/prolifecampaign/status/1676592414398488580
A 2022 Investigation by Gript Media 'MATERNITY HOSPITALS SAY NO RECORD OF COMPLAINTS FOR PRO LIFE VIGILS' - https://gript.ie/hospitals-say-no-reports-of-pro-life-protesters-harassing-women/
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Don't criminalise thought, speech, prayer: Reject Exclusion Zones
This week, the Seanad will debate so-called "Safe Access Zones"; otherwise known as "Exclusion Zones".
They are known as "Exclusion Zones" because they exclude freedom of expression, freedom of thought, freedom of religion, the free market of ideas, and the right of any individual to give, and, or receive information about help in pregnancy, or, indeed, about abortion.
After the so-called "Hate Speech" Bill, this bill is yet another example of the rash, totalitarian streak displayed by Dáil Éireann this year.
And, thanks to them, it has now become your job, as an Irish Senator, to act to preserve the freedoms of the people of Ireland.
As you are aware, private conversations, any pro-life activity including pro-life rallies and vigils, even pro-life prayer, silent or otherwise, could be deemed illegal in the Bill depending on interpretation.
This is beyond the pale of comprehension.
Have you seen what has already happened in places, like Britain and the North of Ireland (via Westminster), which have passed similar legislation? People have already been arrested for praying outside abortion centres, for what is essentially a "thought crime". And, that is a fact, not a fiction.
Ireland will only be truly free when the freedoms of expression, thought and religion are preserved for those with whom we disagree; otherwise, we can count ourselves no better than any other repressive regime in history.
Ireland passing this Bill will not be showing the world how "progressive" we have become as a nation, but, rather, how utterly undemocratic, authoritarian and uncompassionate we have become.
Please act to reject this regressive and repressive proposal. I will be monitoring the situation closely, and will discuss what happens in the Seanad with my family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.
Don't criminalise thought, speech, prayer: Reject Exclusion Zones
This week, the Seanad will debate so-called "Safe Access Zones"; otherwise known as "Exclusion Zones".
They are known as "Exclusion Zones" because they exclude freedom of expression, freedom of thought, freedom of religion, the free market of ideas, and the right of any individual to give, and, or receive information about help in pregnancy, or, indeed, about abortion.
After the so-called "Hate Speech" Bill, this bill is yet another example of the rash, totalitarian streak displayed by Dáil Éireann this year.
And, thanks to them, it has now become your job, as an Irish Senator, to act to preserve the freedoms of the people of Ireland.
As you are aware, private conversations, any pro-life activity including pro-life rallies and vigils, even pro-life prayer, silent or otherwise, could be deemed illegal in the Bill depending on interpretation.
This is beyond the pale of comprehension.
Have you seen what has already happened in places, like Britain and the North of Ireland (via Westminster), which have passed similar legislation? People have already been arrested for praying outside abortion centres, for what is essentially a "thought crime". And, that is a fact, not a fiction.
Ireland will only be truly free when the freedoms of expression, thought and religion are preserved for those with whom we disagree; otherwise, we can count ourselves no better than any other repressive regime in history.
Ireland passing this Bill will not be showing the world how "progressive" we have become as a nation, but, rather, how utterly undemocratic, authoritarian and uncompassionate we have become.
Please act to reject this regressive and repressive proposal. I will be monitoring the situation closely, and will discuss what happens in the Seanad with my family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.
