Don’t trust TDs

SO, THEY have presented us with the wording to replace the current section of the Constitution. That’s good, isn’t it?

Well, not really. We are being asked to approve the elimination of the defence of the unborn child, replacing it with a carte blanche for this and all future governments to make whatever rules suit them.

There’s no mention of 12 weeks, no mention of any time limit. Just allow the Dáil to pass whatever variation it wants.

We must assume that any future government will be no different from past and present administrations and go with the flow that wins votes. Right or wrong will not be a question.

The Dáil is made up of a transient group of TDs aligned as they are and shall be for the foreseeable future to a party system. The ethos of the party in power will control whether a baby lives or dies.

There is nothing to stop them passing an amendment to the law making it 24 weeks, 32 weeks, even 39 weeks. There is no point in saying it won’t happen. It’s enough that it could happen.

Are we going to pass the power of life or death over unborn children of the future to this institution? The same institution that sold us down the river to the banks, the vulture funds, the EU?

If abortion is to be permitted, we need any restriction to be put into the Constitution and not left to the whim of pliable politicians.

John Colgan, Fairview, Dublin 3.