Ireland's leading provider of pregnancy counselling, the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) has called on all political parties to commit to repeal Article 40.3.3.
Commenting on the Dáil debate on Clare Daly TD’s Bill to allow for terminations in cases where there is a fatal foetal anomaly, Niall Behan, IFPA Chief Executive, said: “While politicians debate the constitutionality of the Bill, our counsellors are seeing women every day who are seeking abortion because of fatal foetal anomalies and for other serious physical and mental health reasons.”
“The State adds to the burdens these women face by expelling them from the health services and obliging them to organise and pay for abortion services in another country,” added Mr Behan.
“The IFPA calls on TDs to support this Bill,” said Mr Behan. “But it is not enough to legislate for abortion in limited circumstances. All the women who use our pregnancy counselling services need to have access to safe and legal abortion in Ireland. What is needed now is for political parties to clarify how they intend to reform the law to provide for legal abortion services in Ireland—and to make a clear commitment to do so.”
Tuesday 10 February 2015