Ireland's Minister for Health James Reilly today appointed Mr Tony
O’Brien as the new Director General of the Health Service Executive (HSE). Mr O'Brien was previously the Chief
Executive of the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) and is a well-known
campaigner for the legalization of abortion in Ireland.
The Minister in recent weeks has been acting contrary to the
pro-life commitments made by his party at the last election. This became
evident during the reading of the recently defeated private members bill tabled
by Clare Daly when the Minister made it clear that he was in favour of
legislation for abortion
The political message being sent by Minister Reilly in
appointing someone as Director General of the HSE who has spent most of his
career campaigning for abortion on demand in Ireland is unmistakable.
Pro lifers are equally concerned about the setting up of the
Expert Group process to report to Government on options for
complying with the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the A, B
and C case and which has been undermined recently by statements from both Minister
Reilly and Minister of State Kathleen Lynch which attempt to pre-empt its
findings.
We appeal to Taoiseach Enda Kenny to intervene and overrule
this appointment and to honour the pro-life committments made by his party at
the last election
