21 years
since the X Case Ruling, the Irish Government has finally introduced
legislation to provide for life-saving terminations. However, instead of
protecting women, it has made the route to their constitutional right to be so
arduous that it effectively encourages them to continue to travel abroad even
when legally entitled to a termination in this country.
For the
first time in Irish law, this Act defines ‘unborn human life’ which was given
an equal right to life to that of the woman, as a fertilised ovum from the
moment of implantation. Consequently this bill does not offer the right to
choose a termination to women in Ireland who are pregnant with a diagnosis of
fatal foetal abnormality. It makes no provision for abortion in cases of rape
or incest, during an inevitable miscarriage while there is still a
foetalheartbeat, nor indeed does it serve the needs of women whose health is at
risk if a pregnancy is continued.
Orlaith
Reidy of Galway Pro-Choice stated:
“Forcing women who are suicidal to face panels
of between 3 to 7 medical professionals is such an ordeal in itself that women
entitled to a legal abortion here will continue to travel abroad, rendering the
legislation ineffective. There is also no provision to ensure those against
terminations in all circumstances cannot sit on these decision making panels
raising the possibility of a woman not being granted a termination regardless
of her case including if there is a genuine risk to her life.”
Savita
Halappanavar died in Galway University Hospital after being denied a
termination of an inevitable miscarriage. The inquest into her death found that
had she been granted it when she made the request, she would most likely still
be alive today. T.D’s, including five from Galway voted against this legislation
as they believe it is too broad and will equate to ‘abortion on demand’. Yet
this legislation is so incredibly narrow it would not have saved Savita’s life.
Dette Mc
Loughlin of Galway Pro-Choice said:
“Under the bill ‘illegal’ abortion continues to
be a criminal offense, carrying a 14 year prison sentence for the woman, and
also for a doctor that performs such a termination, putting undue pressure on
medics. This will affect only the most vulnerable women; mostly the thousands
who order abortion pills online and take them without medical supervision. This
will have potentially devastating consequences as women will be afraid to seek
the medical care they require.”
Galway
Pro-Choice concludes that we now must move towards repealing the 8th amendment
(Article 40.3.3 of the constitution) to deliver what women in Ireland need and
deserve, and the majority of people in Ireland support. We, along with other
groups in Ireland, are calling for a referendum to repeal the 8th amendment and
will be launching our campaign with a public meeting at the end of the month.
