The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has said it is reassured by the Irish Times opinion poll on abortion published on Friday last.
A Citizens’ Assembly will meet for the first time later this month to
consider the future of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, and is
due to come up with a recommendation on its future before next Easter.
The Eighth Amendment guarantees the right to life of the unborn and was
inserted into the Irish Constitution after a referendum on the issue in
1983.
In the poll conducted by the Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI, voters were
asked for their views on whether the amendment should stay or on what
terms it should be repealed.
A total of 18% said it should not be
repealed, 55% said it should be repealed to allow for limited access to
abortion in the cases of rape and fatal foetal abnormality, 19% said it
should be repealed to allow for abortion in all cases requested, as in
Britain, while 8% had no opinion.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Ruth Cullen of the PLC said: “The poll
clearly shows that 73% of respondents do not want unrestricted access
to abortion in Ireland, along the lines of what the ‘Repeal’ campaign is
looking for.”
The poll also reveals that 55% of respondents support limited access
to abortion. Dr Cullen said: “The overall findings of the poll are
reassuring from a pro-life standpoint. The ‘Repeal’ campaign are looking
for unrestricted access to abortion. This poll shows very clearly the
public do not support such a regime being introduced.”
She continued: “We are very confident that support for keeping the
Eighth Amendment will grow and grow as people realise the international
experience shows there is no such thing as limited abortion once it is
introduced. The reality is, when the right to life is taken away from
some unborn children, it quickly leads to other grounds and categories
being included. It is very clear from today’s poll the Irish public
don’t want to see that happening.’’
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has revealed that the Citizens’ Assembly will
hold its first meeting on Saturday 15 October at Dublin Castle, with
subsequent meetings taking place in the Grand Hotel in Malahide.
The
assembly will begin by discussing the Eighth Amendment, and will also
consider several other topics such as Ireland’s ageing population,
fixed-term parliaments, referendums and climate change.
Judge Mary Laffoy will chair the assembly and the other 99 members
and 99 substitutes were selected on a random basis by polling company
Red C, which was commissioned by the Government.
Proceedings from the
assembly will also be broadcast online.