Referendum 'will not stop Irish abortions in UK'

The Government’s abortion referendum proposals will not help the 19 pregnant Irish women who travel to the UK for terminations per day and should be abandoned, the Alliance for a No Vote claimed today.

The group identified 20 serious legal flaws in the Twenty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution Bill which reduces women’s right to life - making their lives explicitly worth less than those of the unborn.

Prof Ivana Bacik, Reid Professor of Criminal Law at TCD, said the proposal also "creates a draconian new criminal offence which will encompass those women who seek to abort themselves or anyone who seeks to help them."

Calling the referendum a "cynical and dangerous political manoeuvre" Prof Bacik said the lives of the most vulnerable pregnant women and girls would be endangered. "The fundamental effect of the proposal is to reverse the X case and deny the risk of suicide as a justification for a life-saving abortion," she argued.

"Those who are wards of court, asylum seekers, women in detention and children in care - who are at risk of suicide, will not be able to travel abroad for lifesaving abortions."

The amendment is divisive and foolhardy said Labour MEP Mr Prionsias de Rossa and added it would not stop the flow of women to the UK for abortions. "The only people who will be prevented from travelling abroad as a result of this legislation will be the poor - or young girls who need assistance to travel."

Mr Tony O’Brien, Irish Family Planning Association chief executive, criticised the "choreographed" timing of the Bishops of Ireland statement of support during Advent. "The Bishops are being political on a theological matter. They had plenty of time to comment on this bill but chose the second-last weekend before Christmas".

Under these proposals the Taoiseach is saying "its fine to have abortions as long as you have them somewhere else, not on Irish soil", claimed Mr O’Brien. He called on the Tanaiste, Ms Harney to declare the amendment "dead in the water ...and bring an end to politicking on the issue."

Prof Walter Prenderville, a gynaecologist at Combe Women’s Hospital, Dublin, said abortion should be considered a health issue rather than a constitutional issue. The proposed legislation would seriously compromise doctors - putting them in an impossible situation.

In a lengthy response to queries from the Fine Gael leader Mr Michael Noonan on the proposed legislation last October, the Taoiseach Mr Ahern outlined his case. He said the legislation would not prohibit a health board from assisting a woman who is threatening suicide from travelling abroad for an abortion.