Former Donegal Independent General Election candidate Tim Jackson is participating in a fast outside the Dail.
He is demanding that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Oireachtas Committee on Abortion watch a video, he has chosen, of an abortion at their meeting before discussing a referendum any further.
Mr Jackson, who says the hunger strike is not to death, has already made his requests in writing, but has received no response.
He claims his actions are not a publcity stunt:
Letter sent by Mr Jackson to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Committee Chair Senator Catherine Noone
I am very disappointed that your government seems intent on having a referendum to decide which human beings can be legally killed in the womb. I am therefore calling on An Taoiseach and the Oireachtas Committee on Abortion to first watch a video of how children are killed in the womb, before any discussion of whether we should vote on their lives.
Such a vote would be the single worst policy-decision ever made by an Irish government, turning ballot papers into death permits. Democratic votes do not extend to robbing humans of fundamental rights. We would never consider legalising such evils as rape, and neither should we consider further legalising the murder of human beings in the womb.
If An Taoiseach and the committee refuse to view an abortion before proceeding further with deliberations, I can only assume you wish to be willfully ignorant of the barbarity of the procedure and what Irish children will suffer. If you do not reply within three days agreeing to this reasonable request, I will take proportionate, peaceful action to rectify the situation.
Sincerely,
Tim Jackson
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