On the same day that they celebrated Queen Elizabeth’s rule over Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein have stated that prayer should be banned from near abortuaries because it ‘feels’ intimidating.
Frustrated at the fact that their unsubstantiated efforts to paint prolife people as aggressive had failed, Sinn Fein resorted to stating that mere feelings, rather than any actual evidence, should dictate laws in Ireland.
Lynn Boylan, who curiously made a trans exclusionary speech that failed to mention ‘pregnant people’, stated:
I cannot but mention Senator Mullen's comments. He continuously comes into the Chamber and talks about having respect for the people who voted "No" in the repeal the eighth amendment referendum. He is right. Absolutely everybody has a right to their democratic vote and to be respected for that vote. However, he is not listening to what the women who are trying to access healthcare are telling him. We recently had a debate in this Chamber about violence against women. We all talked about how women's voices need to be listened to. People need to listen to the experiences of women. Women are telling us they are intimidated and frightened, and there is a chilling factor in accessing healthcare. Senator Mullen is entitled to his opinion on this - that is absolutely fine - but I am asking him to open his ears and to listen to what women are telling him. They feel intimidated.
Senator Mullen can refer to those involved as decent people, mainly older people, or say they are reflecting in quiet prayer. He can say all of that. It does not matter what they are doing. The reality is that the feeling of the person they are doing it to is one of intimidation. I ask Senator Mullen to reflect on that and to listen to what those experiencing it are telling him. That is all I ask him to do. I fully support him in saying we have to respect people's different views, but when women are telling him they are being intimidated, he must listen to the voices of the women who are being intimidated.
For your consideration, here is some of Sinn Fein’s recent behaviour towards Catholics.
