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Voters in Ireland approved
a referendum to remove constitutional protection for unborn children by
a vote of 66.4 percent in favor and 33.6 percent opposed. The vote
repeals the 8th Amendment of the Irish It was replaced with “Provision
may be made in law for regulation of termination of a pregnancy."
Policy Paper, Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy which
includes “termination of pregnancy up to 12 weeks of
pregnancy without specific indication”. In addition, the guidance states that “termination
of pregnancy for a fetal condition likely to lead to death before or shortly
after birth or for maternal health should not have a gestational limit in the
General Scheme”; language that the
pro-life movement in Ireland believes opens the door for late-term abortion on
demand owing to the broad term “maternal health”.
The result places Ireland in the ignoble position of being
the first country to vote to legalize abortion and not have it imposed
legislatively or judicially. An analysis of the vote shows that 64.1% of
eligible voters voted and a minority of 42.5% of Irish citizens actually voted
to legalize abortion.
Despite the euphoria by government officials, including the Taoiseach Leo
Varadkar, The burden is now on lawmakers to
devise legislation while political parties begin to form positions on the
legislation. A provision to protect health providers’ right to conscientious
objection is one of the controversies facing lawmakers and the cabinet. Health
Minister Harris tweeted that there will be an opt-out clause for health
providers opposed to abortion but that those who do so will be required to
refer for abortion, including general practice physicians.
Lawmakers themselves
may be denied the right to vote according to their conscience by political
parties which may demand that members vote the party position. Sinn Fein’s TD
Peadar Tóibín, who is opposed to abortion on demand, is preparing for the
party struggle stating, “ I know some
party members are obviously unhappy with the fact I have articulated a strong
view on this but for me if there just one child under threat, nevermind
thousands over generations, if there is one child I would have no choice but to
grab with both hands the chance to save that child’s life.
“People have said to me, ‘well what if you
lose your job over this’, and I said, it is not the end of the world if I lose
my job, but if abortion comes in for the child, it is the end of the world. One
child’s life is more important than my job, and every TD’s job.”
Other provisions of the legislation
will include regulations on access to abortion inducing drugs which are
expected to be
covered under the country’s prescription drug program with a limit of
$155 for any prescribed drug and are likely to be free to medical card holders.
Health Minister Harris
to the Dáil on July 10 and 11, before
it breaks for summer recess, while the Oireachtas Health Committee continues to meet
over the summer to work through the details and to prepare legislation for consideration
in September.
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