In an eye-opening, in depth Hot Press Interview, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, has called for the removal of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution.
Speaking to Jason O'Toole, the Fine Gael politician, who is one of the most powerful figures in the current Government, outlined his belief that abortion should be available in Ireland where cases of fatal foetal abnormalities are involved. He also states that the option of a termination should be open to women in cases of rape and incest.
"We must treat women who found themselves dealing with that unbearable trauma far better than we are supporting them at the moment," he says, in regard to cases of fatal foetal abnormality. "And that is why I want to see change in the Eighth Amendment to support mothers who are dealing with that. I don’t find acceptable the idea that mothers who have to deal with this awful sadness should have to leave our shores to get the support they need."
The Minister also makes a strong case to argue that Fine Gael are the party most capable of ushering in the change.
"You’re talking about a political party that dealt with the legislation for the X Case, which is something that successive governments had refused to do. I remember coming home one afternoon on the bus from Dáil Éireann and coming up a road in my constituency and the entire road was lined with posters that had my face on it and underneath my face was the word murder. We have shown our mettle in dealing with this really serious matter in the past, and I’m confident we will do that again."
Elsewhere, the minister – who identifies himself as a Roman Catholic – is unflinching in his criticisms of the Church's views on homosexuality. "I did find it difficult, the tone that was adopted towards gay marriage by the Roman Catholic Church globally, not just here in Ireland,” he said. "The love, the care, the comfort and the attraction that a gay couple have with each other is the exactly the same as what I have with my wife."
The wide-ranging and often controversial interview also sees Donohoe:
• speaking out in favour of medically supervised injection centres;
• sharing his views on Donald Trump and Boris Johnson;
• discussing his shock when Enda Kenny was revealed to have played a part in the appointment of John McNulty to the board of IMMA;
• and talking about all of his musical favourites.
"I was at Beyoncé in Croke Park on Saturday night,” the Minister reveals. "I’m not a typical member of the 'Beyhive' – but I do think Lemonade is a great album."
With a lot more detailed discussion of music, movies, popular culture and the role of Hot Press, it is a fascinating conversation with one of the brightest minds in Irish politics. The full interview with Pashcal Donohoe is in the new issue of Hot Press, on sale Thursday.

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