– Release date: 04 February 2002
The Irish Family Planning Association has said tonight that it was determined to mount a strong campaign against the abortion referendum, following the Government's announcement this evening of a polling date.
Polling will take place on Wednesday, 6th March.
According to the IFPA: "We would much prefer to invest our valuable resources in reducing the number of crisis pregnancies through the provision of accessible and quality reproductive healthcare. However, we have been left with no choice but to invest in a campaign against the abortion referendum because, if passed, it could prove damaging to the lives of Irish women.
"At best the referendum proposals are an Irish solution to an Irish problem: they provide an endorsement of our policy of exporting abortion to Britain. At worst, these proposals threaten the lives of Irish women. We hope it does not take a death, resulting from suicide, to expose the danger of these proposals.
"Between now and polling day, the IFPA will attempt to highlight the serious flaws in the legislative framework which we are being asked to approve in our Constitution. We will challenge the myths which are being peddled by proponents of this legislation, in particular the Tanaiste, who claim that the proposals are required to ensure the availability of themorning after pill.
"This referendum will not be the last opportunity for the Irish people to vote on abortion in Ireland. If this referendum is passed, we predict that circumstances will arise in the future which forces the Government of the day to go to the people seeking to amend the legislation."