New Taoiseach criticised in Parliament for his past actions on abortion

On Tuesday, 9 April, Simon Harris officially became Taoiseach. Although he promised to be a leader “for all”, pro-life citizens across the country will recall many of the barbs and negative characterisations he made about Ireland’s pro-life policy and its supporters.

Mattie McGrath, independent TD for Tipperary, wished Simon Harris and outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar good luck but emphasised that Mr Harris must be accountable for his commitments. He read out the contents of an email sent to the Pro Life Campaign ahead of the 2011 general election in which Mr Harris gave a fulsome commitment of his alleged pro-life views and promises to oppose any prospective abortion legislation.

Mr Harris infamously broke this commitment in 2013 and then led the government's efforts to remove the life-saving Eighth Amendment in 2018. Aontu leader Peadar Toibin also criticised the new Taoiseach for having gone from being a “pro-life campaigner” to being “the person who introduced that heartbreaking law”. Deputy McGrath noted that the abortion law introduced in the aftermath of the 2018 referendum has been “the most vicious”.

As Simon Harris begins his term as Taoiseach, pro-life citizens will naturally be very cautious and concerned. A test of Mr Harris will be how he handles the radical three-year review of the 2018 abortion law and if he decides to put ideology before prudence by progressing with deeply unpopular measures to extremify what is already an extreme piece of abortion legislation.