Sir, – Orla O’Connor, director of the National Women’s Council, refers to “the critical right of women to reproductive health and abortion” (Opinion, December 17th).
I have, over the years, seen no logical argument for the right to kill anyone, never mind the most vulnerable of all, the baby in the womb. She has, however, done us a favour at this critical time in outlining the aim of the National Women’s Council for abortion on demand. Perhaps it will give pause to the many claiming that what is proposed is the introduction of “limited abortion” and shown that those in favour of abortion will be satisfied with nothing less.
Ireland has an enviable record on maternal care where both mother and baby are cared for and every medical assistance is given to the mother, even if this results in harm to the baby. What is not acceptable here is the deliberate killing of the baby, and how anyone can claim that it is compassionate to do so, defies logic.
When voting on different referendums we were assured that abortion could not be imposed on us. Now we have claims that we have to conform to abortion legislation in other European states. Of course, we also had the promise from Taoiseach Enda Kenny that Fine Gael would not legislate for abortion. Many promises made by Labour and Fine Gael have already been broken, but this one, the most important of all, a matter of life and death, if broken, will cause more grief and heartache than can be imagined now.
Please, let us adhere to proper care for all life and not return to having the death penalty for innocent babies in the womb. Future generations, if allowed to be born, surely deserve better. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – The recent outpouring of reservation from TDs concerning legislating for abortion where the mother’s life is at risk due to suicide is shocking on a number of levels.
First, the fact they have expressed their concern that suicide is “hard to measure” is grossly insensitive to those suffering from mental health issues, as it implies a “tick-the-box” methodology to determine just how suicidal someone is.
Second, it is a huge slap in the face to our mental health experts, by assuming from the outset that they may not be able to determine when someone is suicidal.
Third – and crucially – it is insulting to women everywhere to assume that they may lie about their mental health to access abortion, thus “cheating” their way into getting a legal abortion. If, as the anti-choice brigade have been constantly affirming, suicidal ideation is never “grounds for abortion”, then by that same logic why would they care whether it was legislated for or not? The simple reason has to be that they feel women will abuse this legislation and lie about their mental health.
I find it incredibly offensive that women are being inadvertently demonised through the implication that – so “desperate” to end the life of their unborn child – they would lie their way through all the regulations just to access abortion services.
I also find it tragic that if people consider the above to be a situation that may occur, why wouldn’t they consider the reasons women find themselves having to go through such an ordeal to access a termination that they feel is necessary?
Really, what it all comes down to is control. We live in a country where our Government has to devise a system for legal abortion when the mother’s life is at risk that must have no loopholes whatsoever – loopholes such as suicide – and that would ensure that women have reproductive autonomy; that women would be seen as equal citizens. God forbid if that ever happened. – Yours, etc,