Yes victory marks end of hypocrisy over abortion

THE vote to repeal the Eighth Amendment and replace it with a new Article in the Constitution allowing the Government legislate for abortion, is a watershed in Ireland’s social and legal history.

It is the culmination of decades of fraught public discourse and soul-searching about the rights of mothers and the unborn, not to mention highprofile forays to the courts when rights conflicted, testing the limits of the unborn child’s constitutional protection.

While the polls had predicted the nation would vote for Repeal, the extent of the support for the Yes side was extraordinary. It determines a deeply complex and emotive issue for generations to come. It also resets the previously held view that the country was divided on the issue and in the throes of an ideological civil war.

There was no urban rural divide, no split between old and young, no major difference in view between men and women. To a lesser or greater extent, each group voted overwhelmingly in favour of repeal. The result shows the extent of the revolution in social attitudes that has taken place since 1983 when what became known as the Right to Life Amendment was passed.

But the map of the country’s journey towards legal abortion does not just mirror profound social change. It also reflects a pragmatism and maturity among voters who, while sharing a natural dislike of abortion, recognise the hypocrisy of permitting women legally to obtain abortions abroad but not at home.

It is also an honest attempt to deal with the dangers posed by abortion pills and to show compassion for women who fall pregnant from rape or incest, or whose pregnancy bears the symptoms of fatal foetal abnormality. In fact, it was the testimony of the women who had to travel to Britain for abortion and felt abandoned by our health service here that proved to be the greatest persuader in repealing the Eighth.

The result will not please the Love Both campaigners or the Pro Life movement, who campaigned passionately to retain the status quo, not to mention those who often shared their poignant stories of regret about having abortions. Likewise, those who view legal abortion as a threat to people with disabilities may feel they have little to celebrate. But, in the end, the democratic will of the people, however unpalatable in some quarters, must be respected.

The precise circumstances under which abortions may take place and its legislative provision has been promised by Health Minister Simon Harris for later this year. The plan is for abortion availability up to 12 weeks without restrictions, and in exceptional cases thereafter. The Government believes this time scale will allow women who would otherwise travel to the UK for abortions, or those taking abortion pills without medical supervision, be treated at home.

Repeal, and the legislation that is now promised, removes the stranglehold created by the Eighth on physicians, their exposure to risk of prosecution while treating crisis pregnancies, as well as the threat of criminalising vulnerable women.

Part of this new approach must include enhanced supports for women to reduce crisis pregnancies. Education measures, information programmes, as well as an extension to the availability of free barrier contraception, are now required, along with greater supports for women who continue with challenging pregnancies.

Improvements to adoption and fostering services, disability supports and hospice care for babies, are key to giving women real choices.

Pro Choice is one of the signature slogans of the repeal campaign, but now is the time to ensure it means more than access to abortion.