The Irish Times 22 May, 2009
The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) has described as “disappointing” a fall of just 86 in the number of Irish women travelling to Britain for abortions last year as compared with 2007.
Chief executive Niall Behan called yesterday for contraception to be made available free of charge, as it is in Britain, and for the morning-after pill to be available over the counter.
Figures just published by the British department of health statistics office show 4,600 girls and women who had abortions in England and Wales last year gave Irish addresses, compared with 4,686 in the previous year.
The reduction of 86 last year compares with a reduction of 356 in 2007 on the 2006 figure of 5,042, and a reduction in 2006 of 543 on the 2005 figure of 5,585.