60% support abortion in some cases

OVER 60% of people believe abortion is acceptable in certain circumstances, new research on Irish sexual health and relationships has found.

The study, involving 7,441 adults aged between 18 and 64, found attitudes to abortion had undergone an immense change since the early 1980s.

The proportion of people stating that abortion is always wrong or never justified fell from between 70% and 90% in 1981 to between 30% and 50% in 2005.

Health Minister Mary Harney said yesterday that people had already voted on the matter and the Government had no plans to hold another referendum.

“I accept that some people support abortion in particular circumstances — when somebody is raped or is a victim of incest, for example,” she said.

The report also found that almost 50% of people believe the morning-after pill should be available over the counter.

Ms Harney said the availability of the morning-after pill would have to be seen purely as an emergency measure and any decision would be up to the Irish Medicine Board.