Abortion and the Constitution

Communications Minister Alex White correctly states that the right to life amendment “was introduced as a block on parliament’s democratic role to legislate” but goes on to call for its abolition on the grounds that “people elect a parliament to make these decisions”. (Irish Independent, December 7). It is surprising that, as a barrister, Mr White seems not to understand why we have a Constitution in the first place.

In Ireland, as in the US, Germany, and many other countries, a Constitution is put in place by the people in order to set minimum standards of rights and responsibilities which a State guarantees and which an elected parliament cannot amend or abolish. Therefore, it is designed to protect certain rights (in this case, the right to life) and the basic institutions of the State against the volatile shifting sands of politics.

Mr White seems to call this entire system into question. If he believes that the right to life should be solely a matter for the Oireachtas, then what other constitutional protections should it be allowed to regulate freely? To follow his line of logic, does he believe that the entire Constitution should be abolished, so that the Oireachtas has a completely free hand in all matters, as the House of Commons does in the UK? I believe that the Irish people would have little faith in such a system.

Barry Walsh

Clontarf, Dublin 3

Jim Stack (Irish Independent, December 8) bemoans the lack of “openness and respect” from columnists Colette Browne and Ivan Yates in the ongoing abortion debate, while singing the praises of David Quinn, of the Iona Institute.

Mr Stack also seeks to frame this highly emotive and divisive debate in terms of “unborn children” and “babies whose lives are at stake if the Eighth Amendment is repealed”. I would have to seriously question where his respect for the facts in this matters lies?

The medical procedure of abortion deals with an embryo or foetus and would be entirely legal were the Eighth Amendment repealed; whilst the killing of a child or baby is known as infanticide, and is illegal. These are clearly two separate issues which pro-life campaigners like Mr Stack regularly seek to conflate. Respect is a twoway street, and needs to be earned.

May I suggest Mr Stack begins his journey of enlightenment with a trip to his library or local bookstore where volumes on ethics and morals exist, and the human reproductive process is explained in great detail.

Gary J Byrne

IFSC, Dublin 1