Debate the Eighth – but in an informed manner

THE consequences of ill-informed decisions being taken in the ballot box can be wide-ranging and felt across society. We only have to look at our near neighbours in Britain to see evidence of this reality. Voters were told their country would regain the power to determine its own laws and there would be Stg£350m more a week for spending on the health system.

The now infamous NHS pledge, which was emblazoned across the Brexit bus, is worthless as Britain faces a €50bn bill to settle its liabilities on leaving the EU.

And the Remain campaign hardly covered itself in glory when it came to explaining what was at stake to people.

In this country, we are on the brink of a divisive referendum campaign on the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution and the abortion regime in this country.

The problem with referendum campaigns is the leading proponents tend to be on the extremes.

Those in the middle with an interest in participating in an informed debate often find themselves lost in a mire of partisan judgments.

Preaching to the converted doesn’t win any undecided votes. All it does is cause confusion.

The first campaign promise on both sides of this debate should be to be respectful to the other side.

The second campaign promise should be to endeavour to educate the voters, not merely bombard them with opinions.

Likewise, there is a responsibility on the part of the media to seek to inform the electorate on the issues.

In today’s Irish Independent, we begin a new series on the forthcoming abortion referendum, ‘Debate the Eighth’.

The intention is to be a platform to do just that – in a respectful and informed manner.