Amanda: Abortion in Ireland...or not?

A heated debate is occurring right now in Ireland about abortion. While in Ireland I frequently saw people on the street holding pro-choice signs and a rally was even held at some point in favor of pro-choice. I’m sure there were also a lot of supporters from the other side of the debate that I just missed as I read a story about a rally in Dublin with people protesting a new European Union treaty that could potentially legalize abortion in Ireland.

Recently, The Irish Times published two editorials – one from each side of the table. Both authors of these pieces shed light onto the whole picture and its history.

Currently, a law dating back to 1861 rules abortions as a criminal offense “with maximum penalties of life imprisonment for women who have abortions and for those who assist them,” cites Ivana Bacik, a professor from Trinity College. This has caused 5,000 women every year to England for an abortion resulting in 100,000 Irish women who have had an abortion in the last 30 years. While these rates are similar throughout Europe, Ireland has the most restraint on abortions. An abortion became only legal when the mother’s life is in danger after a case in 1992. This exception broadened as another case involved a woman who was raped and subsequently became suicidal during her pregnancy, but neither side is complacent with that decision.

Representing the other side, Dr. Berry Kiely writes, “in ethical interventions one hopes the child will survive; in abortion one wants the child to die.” Also, mental health problems are also associated with women who have aborted a child. In a 13-year study in Finland, it was concluded that women who had an abortion were seven times more likely to commit suicide than those who gave birth.

In a poll released last month by Safe and Legal in Ireland, 82 percent of those questioned believed that an abortion should be legalized when the woman is endangered and 66 percent agree that it should also be available for women who were raped and become suicidal. Another recent poll, Pro-Life Campaign found that 66 percent were opposed to the legislation in favor of abortion. Granted both of these polls may be biased as they were supported by a pro-choice and a pro-life group, respectively, but they show that Ireland is highly divided on this issue and that may remain no matter how the law changes.