The Association of Irish Humanists has called for a rejection of the Government's abortion amendment, arguing that it would not address the dilemmas surrounding the issue.
Opening its campaign for a No vote, the association secretary, Mr Dick Spicer, described the coming ballot as "a wasted referendum" and accused the Government of going through a "performance" for no tangible result.
"Passed or lost, it makes no difference. This referendum solves absolutely nothing," Mr Spicer said. He predicted that a further referendum would have to be held within five to 10 years of next month's ballot to meet public demand for clarity on the issue.
Mr Spicer said the association's call for a No vote was a commentary on the referendum wording and should not be interpreted as support for unrestricted abortions.
The organisation's position is detailed in a pamphlet written by its president, the former Labour Party TD and government minister, Mr Justin Keating, which was also published yesterday.
In it, Mr Keating says abortion should be made available but only in the first trimester of the pregnancy. He argues for better supports and healthcare for pregnant women, saying studies show that in countries where support services are good, the number of late terminations is low because women feel better able to cope with pregnancy.
He also accuses the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, of holding the referendum purely to keep independent TDs on side.
His pamphlet, Why the Abortion Referendum Solves Nothing, argues that the Constitution and legislation now deny the existence of abortion rather than dealing with it and that the referendum perpetuates that approach.
"One in every 10 pregnancies in Ireland is aborted deliberately by human agency . . . so in truth the problem is very large and therefore very serious. But we are good at refusing to see things as they are in the hope that if we deny their existence vehemently enough they will disappear," it says.