Abortion referendum sparks fierce Irish debate

DUBLIN: Tens of thousands were expected at a rally for abortion rights in Dublin yesterday, campaigning on one side of a fierce debate after Ireland announced it would hold a referendum on the issue next year.

“This is a show of strength,” said Linda Kavanagh, spokesman for the Abortion Rights Campaign.

Abortion has always been illegal in Ireland. In 1983, an eighth amendment was added to the constitution after a referendum, giving equal rights to the life of the unborn child and the mother.

The law was changed three decades later to allow terminations when the mother’s life was at risk, following public outrage at the death of a pregnant woman in 2012 who was refused an abortion.

In the face of mounting public pressure, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Tuesday announced plans for a referendum on the issue to be held in May or June next year, ahead of a visit by Pope Francis in August.

Ireland is still deeply divided over abortion. A recent poll by Ipsos/MRBI found 67 per cent of respondents were opposed to abortion in general, but that 76 per cent were in favour of legalising it for rape cases.

Although the pro-abortion camp had reacted positively to the referendum announcement, there was suspicion that members of parliament continued to be influenced by the church in the mainly Catholic country.

Unlike the referendum which saw Ireland vote in favour of same-sex marriage in May 2015, no politicians had yet taken a strong position calling for greater abortion access.

Irish media had reacted similarly, reluctant to take a bold stance on an issue which had divided Irish society.

“I think they lack courage for what’s right... as the pressure that comes from people in their constituencies who may be older and more conservative,” said Solidarity lawmaker Brid Smyth. AFP