Safe access zones

hoodie6029

I see a proposal to restrict protests outside providers of abortion services is going to Cabinet today. No protests within 100 metres of an entrance to the providers.

So if a protestor set ups their protest at the 100 metre mark but it is outside someone’s home or other commercial premise or school completely unrelated to the service, can they be told to move along? This would effectively massively increase the 100 metre zone.

Hellrazer

Should be banned altogether from protesting over abortion services. Its got to be traumatic enough without the Jesus freaks protesting outside your local GP office.

Gregor Samsa

Surely if a protest could be moved along simply for being outside any premises, there wouldn’t be a need for the proposed safe access zones in the first place.

Unless the protestors were violent, threatening or inciting hatred they’d be free to protest at the 100m mark, assuming it’s not on private property that they don’t have permission to be on.

hoodie6029

Nobody should be harassed (to put it mildly) going to a business or public service for treatment.

I’m just wondering if there is an unintended consequence of the zone in that the protestors could keep getting pushed down the street for interfering with others to the point they’re so far away that their protest would be pointless.

Hellrazer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120771587#Comment_120771587

Maybe thats what the government plan is - move them so far away that the protest becomes meaningless - no point protesting about abortion if you are protesting outside a cake shop / newsagents / take away etc.

100m is a fair distance away when you think of it.

If you look at say Dundalk hospital -Exactly 100m away is angelos takeaway. Not much point in protesting there 😀

hoodie6029

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120771596#Comment_120771596

Had a quick look at Holles St on Google maps there, presuming that they provide abortion care. Using the measure tool, 100m from the doors puts you halfway up Merrion Square or down on Grand Canal Street.

I’m sure plenty of them will breach the zones in protest so that they can be filmed being carried away to drive the followers’ outrage.

Unfortunately, the loud mouth groups, not limited to the anti-choice brigade, just shout constantly about their rights, like that is all that should be considered.

Everyone else: ‘Other people have rights too that need to be respected’

Protestors: ‘But our rights are the right ones because of <insert self serving reason here> is on our side’