State paid for two teens to have abortions since poll

THE State has paid for two teenagers in its care to have abortions abroad since the referendum to limit abortion here was defeated a year ago.

Both the East Coast Area Health Board, which covers south Dublin and Wicklow, and the South Eastern Health Board have confirmed they each took a teenager in their care to Britain for an abortion in the past year.

The health boards would not discuss the details of the cases to protect the anonymity of the girls in their care. However, they confirmed they had secured court orders for the abortions.

If young women in care have been victims of rape or incest, health boards can make court applications to take them abroad for abortions. It is not clear on what grounds these two abortions were sanctioned.

Labour has again called on the Government to fulfil the promise it made in March 2002 to legislate for the Supreme Court X case after its own abortion referendum was defeated.

Following the X case, the Supreme Court ruled that an expectant mother had a right to an abortion here if there is a substantial risk to her life, including the threat of suicide.

The Government attempted to have the threat of suicide eliminated as grounds for an abortion in last year’s referendum, but this was defeated.

Labour health spokeswoman Liz McManus said the absence of legislation means doctors dealing with crisis pregnancies only have the Supreme Court judgement for guidance.

“Legislation is now required to provide clarity and certainty and statutory protection to current medical practice,” Ms McManus said.

But Health Minister Micheál Martin’s spokesman yesterday said both the East Coast Health Board and South Eastern Health Boards were legally entitled to bring the two teenagers in their care abroad for abortions.

Mr Martin indicated before the last abortion referendum that the State would fund abortions for teenagers in care who were victims of rape or incest.

At the time he said people voted for the right to travel in 1992 and the State cannot currently stop parents bringing their children abroad for abortions.

Because the health boards are acting in loco parentis, the State cannot put an obstacle in their way, the minister added.

Responding to the call for the Government to legislate for the X case as promised, the minister’s spokesman said the matter remains under consideration and is ultimately a matter for Government.

But Labour said the Government’s legislation programme up to the middle of 2004 contains no reference to any abortion bill.

The teenager at the centre of the X case opted to have an abortion in Britain.