Vote Yes – based on the evidence
■ We, the 1,200 undersigned individuals, write as a group of professional scientists and members of Ireland’s scientific community, but primarily as citizens or residents of Ireland, in support of the proposed repeal of the Eighth Amendment.
We are committed to making our contribution to an evidence-based, rational, innovation-led society and we advocate that people undertake a careful examination of the legal, medical, and scientific evidence, including a critical assessment of the sources and probable veracity of any claims made, before deciding how they wish to vote.
We value the process of coming to an evidence-based decision. This critiques the diverse range of evidence presented, where an open mind is balanced by a healthy degree of scepticism. In this regard we commend the Citizens’ Assembly and the Joint Oireachtas Committee, who undertook careful evidence-gathering exercises before delivering their reports. We commend also the politicians and members of civic society who have honestly and openly acknowledged how they were compelled by the evidence and the personal testimony of many brave individuals to support a Yes vote.
The Eighth Amendment was inserted on a wave of negative emotions; let it be washed away by a flood of reason, evidence and compassion.
Dr William C Campbell, 2015 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine; Prof Luke O’Neill FRS, professor of immunology, Trinity College Dublin; Prof Katherine Fitzgerald, 2015 Science Foundation Ireland St Patrick’s Day Science Medal, University of Massachusetts; Prof Garret Fitzgerald FRS, 2014 Science Foundation Ireland St Patrick’s Day Science Medal, University of Pennsylvania; Prof Orla Hardiman MRIA, professor of neurology, TCD; Prof Cliona O’Farrelly, professor of comparative immunology, TCD; Prof Aoife McLysaght, professor of molecular evolution, TCD; Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, assistant professor of mathematics, UCD; Dr Shane Bergin, assistant professor of science education, UCD; Dr Tomás Ryan, assistant professor of neuroscience, TCD
The full list of signatures can be found online at scientistsforyes.com