Dublin (January 30, 2018): The Irish government has agreed to hold a referendum at the end of May on whether to reform the country’s near-total ban on abortion.
The vote will decide whether to repeal a constitutional amendment that effectively bans terminations.
Currently abortion is only allowed when a woman’s life is at risk, but not in cases of rape, incest or fatal foetal abnormality.
In recent weeks many people, mainly men, have spoken about the personal journeys they have been on. We should remember the saddest & loneliest journey is made by Irish women who travel to other countries in their 1000s to end their pregnancies. These journeys don’t have to happen
— Leo Varadkar (@campaignforleo) January 29, 2018
Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has said that he will campaign for reform.
The ballot will not be on specific terms of any new law, but on whether to retain or repeal article 40.3.3 of the constitution, known as the Eighth Amendment.
The amendment, which was approved by a 1983 referendum, “acknowledges the right to life of the unborn” – meaning the life of the woman and her unborn child are seen as equal.
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