Sir - On November 28th the British Office of National Statistics released the latest abortion, figures for the Republic of Ireland for the March quarter (January 1st to March 31st). These show a 5.5 per cent increase over the same period of the previous year.
Since the enactment of the Noonan Information on the Termination of Pregnancy Bill last year, each quarter has shown an increase over the same quarter of the year before. When statistics are computed for the remainder of 1996, it is obvious that the final increase will be much higher. This is a very disturbing trend.
The Minister for Health, Mr Michael Noonan's stated intention when introducing his Act was to reduce the abortion figures. Predictably, it has had the opposite impact. As each quarter's figures are published, Mr Noonan has chosen to make no comment on the failure of his Act. Nor has he commented upon this month's establishment in Dublin of a Mange Stopes Abortion Referral Clinic.
The Minister should now admit the reality - that the Abortion Referral Act has led to an increase in abortion figures, and has given British abortion clinics the opportunity to seek business openly in Ireland. - Yours, etc,.
Newtown,
Bantry,
Co Cork.