Halligan demands X Case abortion law
Wednesday, 25th April 2012
Waterford’s Independent TD Deputy John Halligan has lashed out at successive governments’ failure to legislate for the 20-year old X Case, which provided that a suicidal pregnant teenager had the right to an abortion because there was a real and substantial risk to her life.
"Ireland’s proximity to countries where safe abortions are legally obtainable has for too long allowed our Government to simply transport the issue abroad", Deputy Halligan told last week’s Dail.
Deputy Halligan was speaking in support of a Bill which would have legislated for the provision of abortion where a pregnant woman’s life is at risk.
"Women who are unwell in their pregnancy should not have to leave their country in order to safeguard their health", Deputy Halligan told the Dail. "What’s more, medical professionals in Ireland should be able to fulfil their duty to protect the health of these women."
Deputy Halligan cited figures released under a Freedom of Information request to the Irish Medicines Board in 2010, which revealed that Irish Customs authorities had seized 1,216 packs of DIY abortion pills the previous year that had been ordered online. "Presumably, this enforcement may have stopped 1,216 pills getting to the people who ordered them but how many more orders made it through, for women to attempt home abortions without medical supervision? This issue needs to be addressed.
"To meet its international obligations, the Government needs to stop procrastinating on this issue and bring forward legislation to allow for safe and legal abortion when a woman's physical or mental health is at risk, including cases of rape, incest and severe foetal abnormalities as well as the legalization of medical abortion.
"This issue has been neglected for too long and there is simply no grounds for the Government not legislating for abortion in cases where it is already legal — that is, under the terms of the X case. By failing to do so, we are simply turning a blind eye to these women’s genuine needs and this is a damning indictment of governmental attitudes towards women’s health", Deputy Halligan concluded.
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