Genuine progressives will know parenthood is life’s most rewarding decision

you. You are not alone. That is true socialism and liberalism.

While single-parenthood is hard, emotionally, physically and financially, anyone who has done it will tell you it is the most rewarding decision they have ever made.

What is truly progressive is to embrace a culture where singleparenthood is not stigmatised or shamed, or painted as an oppression.

We have avoided a culture of abortion in Ireland for decades, and as a result our termination rate is the lowest in Europe, standing at approximately five per 1,000, compared to Sweden’s 20 per 1,000.

The rate has halved in the last 10 years – while the numbers of children born to single parents has risen by a similar scale. I had my son alone in 2009, and I have noticed there have been dramatic steps forward in attitudes to those parenting solo in the 2010s.

The shift to a more supportive and inclusive environment has been very noticeable to those of us living it. We are making progress here: why, when we are moving forward, should we suddenly take a giant step backwards?

Why would we elect to bring this here, when the aim should be going back to the root of the problem and eradicating the need for such a drastic, life-changing and irreversible action that by and large, hurts women?

We are not backward for not having abortion. We are leaders. Why would we reverse all that and say to women: this is our solution to your crisis pregnancy. Because it’s cheaper and it’s less hassle. It is perverse that the Government should by sell abortion as something that is good for women. NYONE of intelligence must question why the entire political class has rowed in on this in a sudden burst of collective epiphanies.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Health Minister Simon Harris were against it just a few short years ago. We should ensure women who want to control their own fertility and bodies can do so fully, with proper education on and free and available access to 100% contraceptive methods. As we face the biggest

Ahousing crisis in the history of the state, it is not unfair to ask if economics is playing a key role in that push by the entire establishment, and if there is an element of social engineering at play. We are being asked to vote in an abortion culture that is the modern day politically-correct solution to an unwanted pregnancy. If we do, we may look back and wonder how we were so brainwashed, in the same way we recall in shame of the mother and baby homes.

Most No voters – myself included – want to help those very small number of tragic cases of rape and incest and fatal foetal abnormalities.

We must find a way to do that – and we can if the will of the people and the Government is there.