Ireland – Legislating for abortion is very complex and a clear guiding principle is required

Opinion: Legislating for abortion is very complex and a clear guiding principle is required
The ‘yes’ side contained a wide range of views about when abortion should be permitted – the government can’t please them all, writes Professor Dermot Cox.

Fri Nov 30, 2018
Dermot Cox

THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT did not prohibit abortion – in fact it never mentioned the word abortion, rather it articulated a guiding principle that the foetus had rights that were on par with those of the mother.

The government’s rationale for repealing the eighth was that it tied their hands to legislate in this area. Now it has stated that it will introduce legislation on abortion as this reflects the will of the people in the referendum.

Continued: https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/opinion-legislating-for-abortion-is-very-complex-and-a-clear-guiding-principle-is-required-4367894-Nov2018/