On Twitter earlier today, Minister for Equality Aodhan O’ Riordain said he was “not interested” in opponents of the X Case judgment advocating for the rights of rape victims. Commenting on the minister’s remarks Cora Sherlock, Deputy Chairperson of Pro Life Campaign said.
“It’s a very serious thing to suggest that those who hold pro-life views should be excluded from certain debates. When that suggestion comes not only from a public representative but from the Minister responsible for Equality it makes the comment all the more alarming.”
She called on the Minister to retract the comment saying:
“It appears that when it comes to public discourse, equality only applies to some. No matter what personal ideological views Minister O’ Riordain holds, as a public representative, he should respect the sincerely held views of others and should encourage and not try to stifle debate.
“There are people in Ireland who were conceived as a result of rape and are now members of the pro-life movement. I personally know women who were raped and kept their baby and are now involved in pro-life work. Is Minister O’Riordain saying that their voices should be suppressed? As Minister for Equality, he should pause and think a little more before rushing in with his strident one-sided ideological take on things. The Minister should withdraw his insulting remarks.”
“And as a Minister he should certainly refrain from derogatory commentary about those with different views from his own on social media,” Ms Sherlock concluded.
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