Donegal Together For Yes!

Press Release
Date: 25 March 2018

CANVASSING FOR YES

Donegal Together For Yes delivered a training session for

canvassing leaders throughout the county in Ballybofey on
Saturday 25th March to prepare for asking the people of
Donegal to vote Yes in the referendum to remove the Eighth
Amendment.

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Young and old, they came from all parts of Donegal to learn how to
canvass with Donegal Together for Yes to remove the Eighth
Amendment from the constitution at a training session in Ballybofey
on Saturday.

Donegal Together for Yes will be running an intensive canvass that

aims to reach every town and village in the county in the weeks
running up to the referendum which is expected to be held on 25th
of May. The referendum will ask the people to vote on the removal
of the Eighth Amendment and to insert a new clause that will allow
the Oireachtas to legislate for the provision of safe, limited and
regulated abortion healthcare in Ireland.

“Donegal people are caring and compassionate, and believe that

everyone should have access to all necessary healthcare in Ireland.
The Eighth Amendment means that a woman who needs to end her
pregnancy because something goes wrong must travel to the UK or
elsewhere in Europe to access abortion services. This compounds the
tragedy for her, and her family, adding unnecessary stress and
heartache to an already distressing situation.

“By voting yes we will be allowing a woman who has problems with
her pregnancy or with a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality to
access abortion here in Ireland with the advice and support of her
doctor”, said spokesperson, Nora Newell.

Donegal Together for Yes point out that of the 3,265 women who
travelled to England and Wales to access abortion, 63 were from
Donegal and that others probably traveled to the Netherlands or
other parts of Europe. They say that there is also an unknown
number of women, estimates put figure at between 1,500 and 2,000,
who purchase abortion pills over the internet. They do so without
medical support or supervision.

Last week the Dáil passed the Bill for the referendum by a clear
majority. Local TD, Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher was one of those who
voted against it. This was described as disappointing by Donegal
Together for Yes.

The training was attended by a wide range of people, some of whom

had been involved in canvassing against the Eighth Amendment in
1983. Local TD Thomas Pringle attended the training along with
members and representatives of political parties that will be joining
and supporting the cavass.

Anyone wanting to get involved in Donegal Together for Yes can

contact them on their Facebook page.

ENDS