Written by Mary O’ Keeffe
Thursday, 06 December 2007
A Cork lobby group is calling on the government to introduce legislation on abortion in Ireland. At a recent event held by the Cork Women’s Right to Choose group, members of the group said the time had come for government to face up to the job of legalising abortion in the country.
Sandra McAvoy of Cork Women’s Right to Choose Group said that attitudes in Ireland had changed since the 1980s and that it was time for the government to face up to the job of legalising abortion instead of turning a blind eye while thousands of women are exiled every year to seek services abroad.
“Abortion provision is a matter of justice as well as one of women’s health and well-being. It is ridiculous that the private concerns of young women like Miss D, whose case was heard earlier this year, are exposed in open court in the most distressing circumstances.
“We urgently need legislation to establish the grounds for abortion in Ireland in cases of threat to women’s lives and health or when a foetus is non-viable,” she said.
Richard Keane, Coordinator of the Safe and Legal (in Ireland) Abortion Rights Campaign added that there was a need for the Government to make abortion safe and legal in Ireland. “Public opinion and civil society have changed dramatically to support a pro-choice position and recognise that women are entitled to be trusted on this public health issue. At a minimum, the Government has a duty to legislate for the X case, as it has promised, but has consistently failed to do,” he said.
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