Right around the country, thousands of people are speaking up for life, going door to door in Galway, witnessing in Tipperary and Cork, holding super information sessions in Kerry and Waterford, reaching thousands in Dublin every day, making huge inroads in the Midlands, raising up Mayo and Galway and much, much more. (See some of the PHOTOS here)
 
This enormous effort is producing results as politicians, now confronted with the reality of this cruel and terrible Bill, are increasingly nervous of public perception of their position.

 
Predictably, in response to that growing public concern, Fine Gael is now using old tricks to try to stifle debate.
 
Pro-life people, says Fine Gael's TD, Brian Hayes, are 'literally mad' according to the Irish Independent.

Junior Finance Minister Brian Hayes, who is a TD for Dublin South-West was quoted as saying that some anti-abortion protesters as "literally mad" and he accused others of engaging in "real intimidation", particularly in rural Ireland.

Hayes seemed to hold Aodhán Ó Riordáín-type views of rural Ireland, saying: "There is a real intimidation going on the ground, particularly in rural Ireland – mad people.  
 
Other TDs including Regina Doherty and Catherine Byrne have also complained, while the Western People carried a front page report bemoaning the fact that Enda Kenny was getting hassle (and thousands of phone calls) on the abortion issue.
 
Interestingly, there has been no evidence whatsoever offered to validate these claims of intimidation. That's because becoming a victim is an age-old tactic used by politicians to silence opposition.
 
The TDs should open their email inboxes and let the Gardai examine any they claim are threatening.  Why are they not doing so? Perhaps because there are none, or because they know the Gardai will find that such emails are, in fact, dirty tricks or black propaganda.
 
This arrogant and ignorant government has decided, against all the evidence, and despite a pro-life election promise, to legalise abortion until birth.
 
The pro-life community will continue to make their voice heard, peacefully but forcefully. Our mothers and babies deserve no less.