77% favour abortion referendum, survey finds

A survey for the Pro-Life Campaign shows that 77 per cent of those polled favour a referendum on abortion. The poll, by Irish Marketing Surveys between August 14th and September 15th, indicated that 6 per cent approved of the Dail dealing with it through legislation while 17 per cent had no opinion or were undecided.

It also indicated that 49 per cent would support an amendment prohibiting all abortion but allowing the existing practice of intervention to save a mother's life in accordance with Irish medical ethics. A further 16 per cent were opposed to an amendment and 35 per cent were undecided or had no opinion.

The IMS poll asked three questions of a sample of 1,271 adults at 70 locations through the State. The first question was: "There has been some discussion about abortion and the demand for a referendum to resolve the issue. In your opinion, should the question of abortion be decided by the Dail through legislation or should it be decided by the people by referendum?" The Pro-Life Campaign pointed out that of those who expressed an opinion 92 per cent favoured a referendum. The second question was: "Are you in favour of or opposed to the Government mounting a campaign to offer women with crisis pregnancies positive alternatives to abortion?" According to the Pro-Life Campaign the survey showed 56 per cent in favour of a Government campaign, 13 per cent against it and 31 per cent undecided or having no opinion.

Question 3 was: "If the Government were to propose a constitutional amendment to prohibit all abortion but allow the continuation of the existing practice of intervention to save a mother's life in accordance with Irish medical ethics, would you support such an amendment in a referendum or not?"

Some 35 per cent were undecided, but the Pro-Life Campaign figures indicated that of those who expressed an opinion, 76 per cent favoured the amendment and 24 per cent opposed it.