Sir, – Prof William Binchy argues that the decision of the European Court of Human Rights “does not require Ireland to give legislative effect to the Supreme Court” in the X case but merely to clarify our legal position (Opinion, January 19th).
It is interesting to note that his emotive article does not contain the current constitutional position at all, namely that abortion is permitted where the life as distinct from the health of the mother is at risk.
The people have endorsed this position when they have on two occasions refused to remove the threat of suicide as a ground for abortion and subsequently made the right to travel superior to the right to life of the unborn in Article 40.3.3 (see decision of Mr Justice Liam McKechnie in the Miss D case.) The expert group should come up with legislative proposals to give effect to the current constitutional position as opposed to Prof Binchy’s vague proposals which appear unconstitutional. – Yours, etc,