Dail told 83 from Louth went to UK for abortions
EIGHTY-THREE women from Louth travelled to the UK to have an abortion, Health Minister Simon Harris told the Dail last week.
As politicians considered the report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, Minister Harris listed the numbers of what he called ‘real women’ who had travelled to the UK for an abortion last year.
Louth emerged as the sixth highest in the country behind Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Galway and Meath.
Minister Harris said: ‘ These are not faceless women. It might be convenient for us sometimes to think that they are. They are our friends, neighbours, sisters, cousins, mothers, aunts, and wives. ‘
Each woman is dealing with her own personal situation and making what is a deeply difficult decision because this time around - let us be honest about this – this is not a decision or a procedure that anyone undertakes lightly. Women agonise about it and consider every possibility for dealing with the particular crisis facing them, and sometimes they arrive at the conclusion that there is no other option for them but to terminate their pregnancy. When they arrive at that difficult decision, the country we live in, which we hope has come a long way from the dark events that continue to haunt this Chamber, tells them to go and get their care elsewhere - go to another country or head off somewhere else.’
He revealed that of the 3,265 Irish women travelled to the UK in 2016, more than 1,200 were aged between 30 and 39; more than 1,500 were aged between 20 and 29; 255 were aged 40 or over; ten were girls under the age of 16; and 230 were teenagers. More than half of the women who travelled were married, in a civil partnership, or in a relationship while 85% of them were between three and 12 weeks’ pregnant.
It is estimated that at least 170,000 Irish women have travelled to other countries for abortions since 1980.
Saving that his own views on the issue had changed after listening to women and doctors, he believed that they were ‘at the commencement of what I genuinely believe in time could be seen as an historic debate, I am fully aware of the sensitivities and complexities of this issue. I want to acknowledge the deeply held, genuine views on all sides of the House and throughout the country.’
Sinn Fein President and TD for Louth, Deputy Gerry Adams said: ‘I have my own position on abortion. As a legislator, I have no right to impose that view on anyone. It is not for any of us here to cast judgment on anybody for doing what they feel they need to do. It is for women to make that judgment. I believe they are fully capable of doing so and are entitled to do so. Those who are opposed to abortion are entitled to their opinions. They are equally and fully entitled not to have terminations. Everyone has the right to choose. Those who subscribe to a particular faith can heed the guidance of their religious leaders if they so choose. My strongly held opinion is that it is not appropriate for anyone to foist their views on anyone else.’