Pro-choice groups call for new abortion legislation

Pro-choice groups are calling for the introduction of legislation that would allow limited abortion in Ireland, in line with the 'X Case' ruling.

It comes as the Dáil debates a private members bill calling for the 20-year-old Supreme Court judgement to be implemented.

In 1992, the court ruled that women have a legal right to have an abortion in the State, where there is a real and substantial risk to their lives, including suicide.

However, successive Governments have failed to introduce laws that would implement the judgement.

Spokesperson for Choice Ireland, Stephanie Lord said that Irish doctors are unclear of the circumstances when a woman would be entitled to have an abortion in the State.

"The law around abortion still falls under the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, which means there are very severe penalties for medical practitioners if they perform an abortion on a pregnant woman, regardless of the circumstances, despite what was said in the 'X Case' judgement of 1992," she said.

Spokesperson for the Pro Life Campaign Dr Ruth Cullen said: "The fact is that women receive outstanding care when pregnant in this country and Ireland, without abortion, is internationally recognised as one of the safest countries in the world for pregnant women, safer than places like England where abortion is available up to birth.

"Deputy [Clare] Daly and her co-sponsors have also chosen to ignore all the peer reviewed evidence in the intervening years since the 'X Case' decision (on which her Bill is based) highlighting the adverse effects of abortion for women."