Ireland: Abortion limit of 22 weeks is not enough, says doctor

Abortion limit of 22 weeks is not enough, says doctor

Ellen Coyne
November 30 2017

Women would be rushed into deciding to terminate a pregnancy because of a foetal abnormality if doctors were working under term limits, a medical expert has said.

Peter Thompson, a consultant in foetal medicine at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s hospital, told the Oireachtas abortion committee that a woman would feel they had only one week to decide if terminations for foetal anomalies were limited to 22 weeks.

Continued at source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/abortion-limit-of-22-weeks-is-not-enough-says-doctor-fl8wh2fvj

Ireland: Pregnant women, not lawyers, can best protect developing life

Pregnant women, not lawyers, can best protect developing life
Abortion is an intensely personal issue. Behind politics, it is about reality and equality

Nov 17, 2017
Orla O’Connor

Women share their views and concerns about abortion with me every day. In my role as director of the National Women’s Council of Ireland, it’s possible that people feel more comfortable talking with me about the issues. Pregnancy touches the most intimate, tender and sensitive aspects of our lives. Abortion is an issue about which many of us hold complex and sometimes contradictory feelings. What I have learned is that everyone has their own understanding of pregnancy, and everyone has their own thoughts on what we should do about abortion in Ireland. The one ambition we all share is that we avoid a divisive and ugly public debate, that we can build consensus this time around.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/pregnant-women-not-lawyers-can-best-protect-developing-life-1.3295906

17.11.2017

National Women’s Council of Ireland

Ireland: Sinn Féin to amend its stance on abortion

Sinn Féin to amend its stance on abortion
Party will expand position to include protecting the life and health of the mother

Nov 11, 2017
Sarah Bardon

Sinn Féin is to agree an amended position on abortion at its Ard Comhairle next Saturday, allowing for terminations when a mother’s health is at risk.

The party currently advocates for a repeal of the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution and enacting legislation to allow for abortion in cases of rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormality.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/sinn-f%C3%A9in-to-amend-its-stance-on-abortion-1.3287524

11.11.2017

UN will challenge Ireland further if abortion law unchanged, Oireachtas told

UN will challenge Ireland further if abortion law unchanged, Oireachtas told
Anti-abortion professor declines to give evidence to ‘kangaroo court’
Nov 8, 2017
Sarah Bardon

Ireland will face further cases before the United Nations if it fails to change abortion laws, an Oireachtas committee has been advised.

The committee examining the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution was warned the State would be further criticised by the UN human rights committee and be forced to pay compensation to individual women if the status quo remained.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/un-will-challenge-ireland-further-if-abortion-law-unchanged-oireachtas-told-1.3284727

Ireland: Adams believes women should have right to abortion

Adams believes women should have right to abortion
Sinn Féin leader says he can only support party position which urges repeal of Eighth Amendment

Sat, Nov 4, 2017
Amanda Ferguson

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has said his personal view is that it should be a woman’s right to choose whether to have an abortion.

The party has faced criticism from pro-choice activists for supporting a rights-based agenda in the Stormont talks but only extending its support for abortion reform in the cases or rape and fatal foetal abnormalities, which leads to views it only supports the rights of “worthy women”.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/adams-believes-women-should-have-right-to-abortion-1.3280549

04.11.2017

Ireland: Differences on abortion expose deep divisions in Sinn Féin

Differences on abortion expose deep divisions in Sinn Féin
Urban-rural divide among party members crystallises in relation to eighth amendment

Sat, Oct 21, 2017
Harry McGee

Thousands of people took part in the March for Choice in Dublin in September, a protest that was filled with banners of all types, but mostly from parties of the declared left.

Solidarity and People Before Profit were prominent. So, too, were the Labour Party, the Greens and the Social Democrats. However, the complete absence of leading Sinn Féin personalities, or, indeed, the party’s banners was striking.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/differences-on-abortion-expose-deep-divisions-in-sinn-f%C3%A9in-1.3263362

Eighth Amendment ‘played major role in Savita’s death’

Eighth Amendment ‘played major role in Savita’s death’
Professor who chaired HSE inquiry tells Oireachtas committee about legal concerns

Thu, Oct 19, 2017
Kitty Holland

The Eighth Amendment “played a major role” in the death of Savita Halappanavar during pregnancy, a leading international expert in obstetrics has said.

Prof Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, who chaired the HSE inquiry into Ms Halappanavar’s death in 2012, said it was “very clear” to him Dr Katherine Asbury, the consultant treating her, had been “concerned about the legal issues” throughout her considerations as to whether to terminate the pregnancy.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/eighth-amendment-played-major-role-in-savita-s-death-1.3261037

19.10.2017

Oireachtas Committee on Abortion

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Savita Halappanavar

Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran

Ireland: Oireachtas committee votes for abortion law change

Oireachtas committee votes for abortion law change
Kate O’Connell says this is not end of the debate, but is a step in right direction

Oct 19, 2017
Sarah Bardon

The Oireachtas committee examining Ireland’s abortion law has agreed that Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution should not be retained in full.

The decision ensures the committee will recommend a referendum, which the Government has scheduled to take place next year. The proposal was made by Sinn Féin and supported by Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher. Fifteen committee members voted in favour, three voted against including Fine Gael TD Peter Fitzpatrick, and two Fianna Fáil members abstained.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas-committee-votes-for-abortion-law-change-1.3261128

19.10.2017

Oireachtas Committee on Abortion

Ireland: One in five workers has abortion experience – union survey

One in five workers has abortion experience – union survey
80% of respondents say women’s health should be priority in reform of abortion law

Thu, Oct 19, 2017
Kitty Holland

One fifth of workers have had “direct experience of abortion”, according to a survey conducted by researchers at Ulster University.

The study, in which more than 3,000 union members in the Republic and Northern Ireland participated, highlights workplace issues raised by the prohibition on abortion.

These include costs, time off work, stress and in some cases emotional trauma associated with the stigma and isolation, the authors state.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/one-in-five-workers-has-abortion-experience-union-survey-1.3262241

19.10.2017

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Ireland: ‘Women are by-passing abortion law’ – ex-Master of Holles Street

'Women are by-passing abortion law' - ex-Master of Holles Street

Shona Murray
October 18 2017

A former master of Holles Street Hospital will tell TDs today that "the genie is out of the bottle" when it comes to abortion as women are already taking abortion pills.

Dr Peter Boylan, chairman of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Ireland, will appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Abortion.

Continued at source: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/women-are-bypassing-abortion-law-exmaster-of-holles-street-36238374.html

18.10.2017