DUBLIN, Feb. 19, 01 (CWNews.com/LSN.ca) - A press release
from the United Nations Population Fund last week indicated
that Ireland had pledged to nearly double its funding of the
abortion-promoting population control group.
Ireland pledged to raise its contribution from $1.2 million
this year to $2.3 million in 2003. The release also
indicates that Norway pledged to raise its contribution
from $23 million last year to $24.3 million this year.
"These substantial increases are a boost to our efforts to
provide reproductive health services to women and men in
the developing countries, where the needs are the
greatest," said UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Obaid.
The news comes after the European Union pledged to fill the
gap in funding to abortion promoting groups left by the
newly reinstated Mexico City Policy of the United States.
The news will come as a big disappointment to Dana Rosemary
Scallon, a former presidential candidate and popular singer
in Ireland who is currently a member of the European
Parliament.
The Irish Examiner reported that Scallon reacted to the
announcement that the EU would cover the funds saying, "The
Irish Government must now clarify its position in relation
to the EU stance regarding the financing of organizations
which support abortion. Taxpayers' money should never be
used to promote or support abortion." She noted that such
funding was "at variance with the Irish Constitution."