Sir, The UNICEF Report Progress of the Nations" and the Irish Medical Journal report (July August 1996) have shown that Ireland is the safest place for a mother to have her baby. It is twice as safe in Ireland, where abortion is prohibited, as it is in either England or the US, where abortion is liberally available.
So let's put paid to the "lie" that women's health is being neglected in Ireland because abortion is not available. The Irish Medical Council considers abortion to be unethical because it sees no place for abortion in medicine and, given the findings of the reports cited, appears justified in this course.
The Supreme Court Judgment of 1992, without considering medical evidence, ruled contrary to the medical profession, and the current excellent pregnancy management in Ireland that abortion should be permitted "on medical grounds", under some circumstances, up to full term. It is clear that the problem lies with the erroneous Supreme Court judgment.
The way forward is to enshrine in our Constitution the high medical standards which pertain in Ireland and have been proven to be the best for both mother and child. This can only be achieved by facing up to the errors of the judgment of 1992 and restoring the right to life of the unborn child in another Referendum. - Yours, etc.,
Crescent Mall,
Wexford.