Ireland – Abortion numbers are in line with predictions

Letter of the Day
Mon Jul 15 2024
by Dr Peter Boylan, Former chair, Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists,

Sir, – Breda O’Brien’s claim that there has been an “astonishing rise” in abortion services accessed by women in the Republic of Ireland since the repeal of the Eighth Amendment is misplaced (“In Ireland, you can tell people abortion figures won’t rise and still be unaccountable when they double”, Opinion & Analysis, July 13th).

The statistic of 3,019 women from the Republic accessing abortion in England and Wales in 2017 refers only to the number of women who gave addresses in the Republic. Many others provided the UK addresses of family, friends or supporters. This practice was well-identified over many years when abortion was illegal here. Similarly, the number of women who used abortion pills prior to repeal cannot be accurately determined.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/2024/07/15/abortion-numbers-are-in-line-with-predictions/

15.07.2024

Ireland: Five rules for a open and civil debate on the abortion referendum

Five rules for a open and civil debate on the abortion referendum
All sides should understand that all the ethical issues that abortion raise are “up for debate”

Mon, Jan 29, 2018
Alberto Giubilini

In a few months, Ireland is going to have a referendum on whether to repeal its constitutional ban on abortion. Few topics raise more disagreement, controversy and heated reactions than abortion. Abortion strikes emotional chords and touches upon issues to which people are very sensitive, such as the value of human life, women’s bodily rights, religious prescriptions and freedom of conscience (for doctors).

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/five-rules-for-a-open-and-civil-debate-on-the-abortion-referendum-1.3372591

UK: Police called as Oxford students jeer anti-abortion speakers

Police called as Oxford students jeer anti-abortion speakers

Nicola Woolcock, Education Correspondent
November 4 2017, The Times

Police were called to a debate at the University of Oxford when student union activists heckled anti-abortion speakers.

The Oxford Students For Life group had organised the event for Wednesday and invited speakers to discuss proposals to legalise abortion in Ireland.

It said that the debate was disrupted by protesters who insisted on shouting for about 40 minutes, chanting slogans such as “Pro-life, that’s a lie, you don’t care if women die”.

Continued at source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/police-called-as-oxford-students-jeer-anti-abortion-speakers-k9x37lw7g

04.11.2017