‘Eighth’ poll date is set
‘This referendum campaign will be close,’ says Health Minister as he reveals May 25 as decision day on abortion
THE abortion referendum will be held on May 25, Health Minister Simon Harris announced yesterday.
Mr Harris was flanked by three other Government ministers – Helen McEntee, Eoghan Murphy and Katherine Zappone – after the Bill to hold the referendum on repealing the Eighth Amendment passed through all stages in the Seanad yesterday afternoon.
Mr Murphy confirmed that polling booths will be open from 7am and close at 10pm on voting day, and he encouraged the electorate to ensure ‘they are registered to vote in a place where they ordinarily live’.
He added: ‘We will be having a supplementary register put in place and if you have a postal vote, that will close on April 28. And if you are entitled to vote in the normal way, the supplementary register will close on May 8. Make sure you are registered to vote and to go out and use your vote on May 25 in this very important referendum for our country.
Mr Harris said: ‘I think by providing certainty around the polling date, that makes it easier for people to make their own plans in terms of work and holidays and all of that, but this, I’m sure, will be a close referendum campaign. Often referendum campaigns in Ireland are very close. It’s only kicking off.’
Dr Rhona Mahony spoke at a ‘Together For Yes’ campaign event in the capacity as a ‘consultant obstetrician and as a specialist in maternal medicine in Ireland’.
She is in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment and said one of the problems which arises from our current laws is that some women receive a ‘complex diagnosis made in one jurisdiction, and care delivered in another jurisdiction without appropriate clinical connection and clinical referral’.
‘And this brings all kinds of risk, including inadequate evaluation of diagnosis, inadequate evaluation of what is the potential for future pregnancies, and also the very difficult cost of travelling to the UK... the stigma, the shame and the horror of waiting at home while your baby’s remains are delivered home, from your termination of pregnancy,’ she added.
Dr Ruth Cullen of the Pro-Life campaign said their movement is ‘mobilised countrywide like never before’.
‘As a movement, we are united behind one goal of ensuring that mothers and their unborn babies continue to be fully protected in law. The only way to ensure this happens is to vote No on 25th May,’ she said.
On polling day, citizens will be asked whether they want to repeal the Eighth Amendment of Ireland’s Constitution, a provision that makes abortion illegal in all but exceptional circumstances. The total electorate currently stands at around 3.2million.
If it is repealed, the Eighth Amendment will then be then replaced with legislation which the Cabinet approved this week. This includes abortion access for up to 12-weeks’ gestation.
The Minister for Health has also established a working group to examine how to make contraception more freely available to women.
Earlier this week, Tánaiste Simon Coveney announced a Uturn on his abortion view and said he was now in favour of the 12weeks proposal.
emmajane.hade@dailymail.ie
‘Mobilised like never before’